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'The carrot in here is much more appealing than the stick'

Stephen talks face to face with a convicted murderer in his cell, sees how jail staff try to turn lives around and is confronted by the sometimes shocking reality of life inside.

Stephen Nolan enters the notorious, high-security Maghaberry Prison to meet the inmates and see for himself the pressures the system is facing.

After a frosty welcome from the 'window warriors' shouting abuse from the blocks, Stephen finds himself sitting face to face, in a cell, with a man serving 21 years for murder. He describes to Stephen the events that led to the brutal killing of an innocent young man, beaten to death in an alleyway in Co. Tyrone. He claims he is a changed man and is working with the prison to turn his life around. But is he telling the full story of his crime? And does he recognise the full extent of the pain he’s caused?

The prison governor has worked closely with inmates over the years and is optimistic about turning lives around. David Savage sees his task as working with them while inside, and he knows his responsibility is to try to send them back out into society as fitter, healthier, rehabilitated men. Most importantly, the job of prison staff is to try to make sure they don’t harm again. But some of those Stephen speaks to show the scale of that task. One interview is a shocking wake-up call that hammers home the reality of the complicated lives of prisoners and the impact of abuse and addiction. Mental health problems are a huge issue in Maghaberry and one that spills outside of its grey walls.

28 minutes

Last on

Tue 3 Oct 2023 22:00

Credits

Role Contributor
Series Producer Austen Irwin
Director Austen Irwin
Executive Producer Mary McKeagney
Executive Producer Chris Buckler

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