Magilligan Prison

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

The following visiting times apply.

Wednesday - Sunday

• There are no visits in Magilligan on Mondays and Tuesdays
• There are also no visits on Bank Holidays.
• The minimum duration of a visit is 30 minutes. However Magilligan operates two visiting sessions per day - a morning session and afternoon session.

Visiting Times (legal visits)

Legal visits can booked from Wednesday to Sunday inclusive on telephone number: 028 7772 0454.

Online booking forms

Domestic visit booking form

Legal/professional booking form

PRISON VISITS SCHEME - CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS TRAVEL COSTS

  Applications for help towards the cost of travel to prison establishments (including Young Offenders Centres) in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and wales will be considered. Applicants must be resident in Northern Ireland and qualifying rules must be met. Click on the following link for full details :

Prison Visits Scheme

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 either a closed visit, the opportunity to reschedule their visit or they can choose not to take the visit.

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.

CHILD CENTRED VISITS

Child Centred Visits (CCV) have been introduced at Magilligan to help fathers/grandfathers in custody build relationships with their children/grandchildren. The visits will take place in the main visits complex.

Family Support Officers have been appointed in Magilligan and they will help to facilitate family visits and act as a first point of contact for families.

Who will be eligible?
Initially only inmates who are parents/grandparents may apply to join the Child Centred Visits Scheme.

Everyone making an application for a Child Centred Visit must sign a consent form to permit Magilligan to check with the Probation Board for Northern Ireland that there are no child protection issues. The nominated parent or guardian accompanying the children will also be contacted to check that there are no court orders or other restrictions in place regarding the inmate and their child/children. Consent will also be sought from the parent/guardian as to whether they are happy for the visit to take place.

How often do CCVs run?
In practice one Child Centred Visit will be offered each month as part of a person's normal visits.

What happens during a CCV?
During the session which is expected to last one morning or afternoon inmates will be encouraged to play and care for their children. Subject to normal searching procedures children will be able to bring a special toy, book or homework to show their dad during the visit. A range of toys and activities have been purchased for the family room that will encourage interaction.

It is recognised that the needs of parents on the Scheme may be quite different and people will require different levels of support from Family Support Officers. Each visit will be facilitated accordingly.

Accompanying parent/guardian
A parent/guardian who accompanies a child to a Child Centred Visits is asked to stay in the Visitors Centre for the duration of the visit in case they are needed at short notice.

Further information
If you are interested in finding out about Child Centred Visits ask a member of staff in Visits.

LOCATION

Magilligan is situated on the Foyle peninsula in the north west of Northern Ireland approximately 16 miles from Coleraine and 26 miles from Londonderry. The main visits area is within a short walk of the main gate of the prison.

Travelling to Magilligan

By car
From Coleraine follow the signs for Castlerock and Benone to Magilligan Point. Turn right into the Point Road and drive for approximately 2½ miles. You will be able to see the prison ahead of you.

All vehicles must be left outside the main entrance. There is a car park beside the NIACRO Visitors Centre.

By bus
Magilligan prison provides a courtesy transport service to and from the prison from local railway stations on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Times

Family Link (NIACRO) provides regular transport services to Magilligan.

For further information and transport bookings contact:

NIACRO - Tel: 02877720415