The President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Reverend Robert Cooper paid his first visit to Maghaberry Prison today.

Reverend Cooper, who was accompanied by the prison’s Methodist Chaplains, Reverend Leslie Spence and Reverend Denis Bambrick, spent the morning meeting Alan Longwell, Governor of Maghaberry and visiting the Healthcare Unit, where he availed of the opportunity to meet staff and learn more about the medical care facilities available to inmates.

He then had lunch in the chapel, where he was joined by Maghaberry Governor Alan Longwell, other governors, staff and fellow chaplains from various denominational churches who all provide an invaluable service to inmates and staff alike.

Reverend Cooper said he appreciated the chance to talk to staff and inmates personally and witness the varied work carried out in Maghaberry.

“This is my first ever visit to Maghaberry and I commend the work diligently performed by the resident chaplains on a daily basis. Their pastoral work changes the lives of prisoners and their families and help both groups to deal with the many pressures being in prison brings,” he said.

Governor Longwell said he was delighted to welcome the Methodist President to Maghaberry

“I was particularly pleased that he was able to see the dedicated work carried out by staff in the prison. Teamwork is an integral part of the work we do here and the Methodist President met one of our recently honoured award winning teams, at the Northern Ireland Healthcare awards held in Europa Hotel, Belfast in February for their mental health work in prisons,” he added.

Notes to Editors

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