An international conference on prison facilities, that is set to be held in Belfast has been denied access to the former Maze Prison site, according to the BBC.
More than 700 delegates from around 90 countries are expected in Belfast for the annual International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) event in October.
The event will include “visits to prison-related sitea, The Department of Justice (DOJ) has said.
The first and deputy first ministers’ office blocked the request from the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS), which is hosting the event.
The DOJ said that “as part of early planning for the final day of the conference” an application was submitted last October “to visit the Maze/Long Kesh site”. That request was not approved.
The matter was discussed by Maze Long Kesh Development Corporation (MLKDC) – a Stormont body set up to regenerate the site. Its board agreed to hold “further discussions” with the NIPS, according to recently released minutes. Requests to visit the site must be approved by First Minister Michelle O’Neill, from Sinn Féin, and Deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly, of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
The site has been in limbo for 12 years due to a political stalemate over the old prison buildings, which held paramilitary prisoners during the Troubles.
In a statement to the BBC, The Department of Justice said the ICPA event was the first conference of its kind in Northern Ireland and that it would provide a significant boost to the local hospitality and tourism sector. It added that the denial of access to the Maze site will have no impact on the delivery of the conference.
The Department of Justice said: “NIPS looks forward to welcoming delegates to Belfast and delivering a successful international conference.”
They added: “The conference will bring together practitioners and academics from across the world to discuss modern corrections and provide an opportunity to showcase how the Northern Ireland Prison Service is leading the way internationally, particularly in its approach to the rehabilitation and reintegration of people in custody.”
ICPA provided the same statement.
In a statement to The BBC, The Executive Office said: “The condition and facilities at the former Maze Long Kesh prison are such that it is not suitable for general public access. The sensitivity surrounding the site must also be given consideration. Requests for access are considered on a case-by-case basis, taking account of these factors.”