Chief Inspector to oversee work of Prisoner Ombudsman's office

CJI's Chief Inspector Brendan McGuigan is to oversee the work of the Office of the Prisoner Ombudsman for Northern Ireland from 1 September 2017.  Mr McGuigan will undertake the duties on a temporary basis until a successor to the outgoing Ombudsman Tom McGonigle can be appointed.

"In taking on this oversight role I am committed to ensuring that prisoners and their visitors continue to have confidence that complains made to the Ombudsman remain subject to independent and thorough investigation in the intervening time until a new Prisoner Ombudsman is appointed.  It is also vital that  the impartiality of the Prisoner Ombudsman's office is maintained and the independent investigations of deaths that occur in prison custody continues.” said Mr McGuigan.