Prisoners help with St Columb's Cathedral revamp

PRISONERS nearing release from HMP Magilligan have been giving something back to the community in Londonderry by working on the restoration of St Columb's Cathedral, the Sentinel can reveal.

The enhanced status prisoners - based in the Foyleview unit of the County Londonderry jail - are all approaching the end of their sentences and preparing for their release.

A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) told the Sentinel that those involved in the restoration work would all have been based at Foyleview.

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Only prisoners on the enhanced regime are considered for Foyleview and progression to the enhanced level must be accompanied by continuous exceptional behaviour.

The spokesman said the prisoners involved would all have fallen into this category.

He explained: "Up to three prisoners from the Foyleview Unit of Magilligan Prison have been helping with maintenance work at St. Columb's Cathedral on an ongoing basis.

"All the prisoners are of Category D classification and are in their final year of sentence. The provision of this service for St. Columb's Cathedral is in keeping with the Magilligan ethos of serving the community and it is excellent preparatory work for the prisoners prior to their release."

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"Some work in the prisons and some in the community on sites like St Columb's," he said. "Some would work Monday to Friday in the prison, go home for the weekend, and then report back to work on the Monday."

Phase 2 of the St Columb's Cathedral restoration is now well under way having commenced in January 2010 and it is proposed the main body of the church will be re-opened on August 23, 2010 and the entire project will be completed in January 2011.

The major part of the restoration is to the interior and exterior stonework along with the final stage of new heating and new technology LED lighting.

The work will also include restoration of the bell tower and stained glass windows.