RELATIVES of republican prisoners in Maghaberry Prison said claims from politicians and trade unions that progress is being made in the dispute have yet to show noticeable changes on the ground.
In recent weeks members of various political parties and trade unions have been meeting with prisoners, the prison administration and the Justice Ministry in efforts to resolve the crisis.
Meetings with the SDLP were described as “helpful”, while Sinn Fein announced after a series of engagements that it was “hopeful significant progress can be made in the immediate period ahead”.
However, Jim McAllister, father of dissident republican Turloch McAllister, said prisoners have yet to see any improvement and that Roe House, the prison’s republican wing, looks like something from the past.
“The prisoners are still on the protest, it’s so strange to see all these young men with long flowing beards and long hair, looking like a picture from the past,” he said.
Mr McAllister claimed prisoners are subjected to regular strip searches, are forced to have bagged toilet waste in their cells, experience 23-hour a day lock-ups and have no access to exercise or recreation equipment.
He also said that prisoners are regularly refused visits.
“I’ve been refused visits on four occasions, last time they said it was because Turloch wouldn’t remove his boxers for a strip search,” he added.
The Northern Ireland Prison Service has reacted with dismay to the continuing protest.
“The Prisoner Ombudsman report included 16 improvement recommendations,” a spokesperson said.
“We accepted all of the recommendations which have been, or are in the process, of being fully implemented.
“It is disappointing that the protest is continuing as it had been our belief that accepting and implementing the Ombudsman’s recommendations would provide the basis for a de-escalation of the situation and result in the prisoners ending their protest.”
The former Sinn Fein politician said responsibility lies with Stormont, which he said is unwilling to tackle the root cause of the issue.
“I am still hoping for a speedy settlement, but I’m not holding my breath,” he said.