The money was raised by the sale of hanging baskets, Christmas wreaths and floral decorations created in the prison garden.

Guide Dog NI fundraising co-ordinator Kathy Peart, who accepted the cheque from Maghaberry Governor Alan Craig, thanked staff and inmates for their hard work:

“Five thousand pounds is an absolutely fantastic amount of money. It will pay for us to breed and train a puppy to become a guide dog. Someone in Northern Ireland will benefit from the money you have raised.

“We would like to see the relationship between Maghaberry and ourselves grow. One of the ideas that we are working on is for some of our dogs to be looked after by an inmate if their owner goes into hospital,” she said.

Maghaberry Governor Alan Craig congratulated the staff and inmates working in the garden and said the prison would be delighted to forge closer links with Guide Dogs NI in the future.

“It is absolutely tremendous to see the interest taken and the amount of money raised by you guys going to such a worthwhile cause. I would like to see it as the start of a long and continuing association with Guide Dogs NI.”

At the moment there are approximately 90 guide dogs in Northern Ireland, but it is estimated that there are around 4,000 people trapped in their homes who could benefit from having a well trained canine companion.

The dogs are currently trained in Scotland but later this year the first puppies will be brought to homes in Northern Ireland to begin the intensive process of becoming a guide dog.

Joanna Jones, whose dog, Orla, is a ‘Labradoodle’ (a Labrador/Poodle cross breed) described the positive impact she has made to her life.

“The difference between having a white cane and a guide dog is like the difference between having a milk float and a Ferrari. It makes things so much easier.

“I got my first guide dog at 19 and the improvement was amazing, I was able to walk down the street as fast as I wanted, negotiate the crowds in town and use public transport,” she said.

Hazel Flannigan, who volunteers in the Maghaberry Braille Unit, lost her sight in a car accident at the age of 32.

Before she received her Belgian Shepherd, Leon, she thought having a guide dog would not significantly change her life, but she quickly changed her opinion.

“I can tell you he has made a great difference. It has given me a lot of confidence going out on my own. Leon is my eyes and he is also my loyal companion. I wouldn’t swop him for anything.”

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