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Maghaberry Prison

Maghaberry introduced pre-booked visits to prisoners in early December 2001. The new system allows visitors to book a visit on a specific day and at a time that suits them and to book their visits online. All domestic visitors are required to use the new system which applies to both male and female prisoners.

This page sets out details of visiting times, the location of the prison and provides information about search procedures as well as providing links to the online booking forms.

Visiting times

Domestic
Details of visit sessions are provided below:

• There are no morning visits to female prisoners on Sundays.
• There are no visits on Monday’s or Bank Holidays.
• An enhanced visit can only be booked in Session 1 for sentenced visits.
• A 2 hour visit can only be booked in session 1 for remand visits.

Legal
Legal visits can be undertaken when the prison is closed for ordinary visits. The following visiting slots are available:

• The names of the people intending to visit should be given, in advance, to the prison on Tel: 028 92614062.
• It is advisable to arrive 15 mins before the allocated time.

Online booking forms:
Intergrated Visits

Seperated Visits

Search:
All visitors to the prison undergo a rub down search followed by a search by a passive drug dog before entering the visits room.

Passive drug dogs are fully trained to detect drugs. The dogs do not come into contact with the person but detect by scent. These dogs are used at the entrance to the Visits Area, and will indicate to the handler when a person may be carrying drugs or has been in close recent contact with drugs. When a dog makes an indication, in the interests of health and safety, that person will be offered a closed visit or asked to leave the prison.

The Northern Ireland Prison Service has a responsibility and duty to prevent smuggling of drugs into prisons. Apart from the health problems caused by drugs they also lead to intimidation and bullying in prisons and an unsafe environment for both staff and prisoners. More widely, the pressure that might be applied to a prisoner's family and friends to traffick in drugs or pay for their habit can cause additional misery and hardship.

The Prison Service is committed to tackling the problem head on with every measure at our disposal. The community would not expect us to act any differently. There will be no half measures.

Location:
HMP Maghaberry is located approximately 3 miles from the M1 motorway junction at Moira (Junction 9).

A bus transports all visitors from the visitors centre outside the prison to the visitor’s reception area at the external gate of the prison where your visit will be processed before you are taken to the visiting area.

Visitors are taken by bus back to the Quakers Visitors Centre at the end of the visit.

Travelling to the prison:
By car
Follow the A26 from the Moira roundabout (M1 Junction 9 exit) towards Belfast International Airport for about 2 ½ miles. At the top of the fist hill turn right along the Leckey Road. Follow the road until the end ( ½ mile). The prison is opposite.

Visitors travelling by car should park in the car park at the Quaker Visitors Centre. Vehicles should not be left along the approach road to the prison.

By bus
A free Flexibus is available Tuesday – Saturday between Lisburn Rail Station and the prison.

DEPART 10:30am 13:30pm

RETURN 12:30pm 16:30pm

Other transport services from Belfast, Derry and other areas are provided by various local groups and voluntary organisations. Detailed information about the services and timetables can be obtained from the Quaker Visitors’ Centre Tel: 028 9261 1213 or Prison Link, Tel: 028 9026 2492.