Health standards at a prison in Northern Ireland have been criticised following a report into the death of a prisoner who caught Legionnaires' disease.
Investigators criticised the prison service for failing to deal properly with the deadly bug that entered the water supply at Magilligan prison in Co Derry.
Inmate John Russell who was terminally ill died after catching the pneumonia-like bacteria at the jail in February 2007.
The Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland ruled that the code of practice for controlling the pollution of water systems had not been followed.
Louis Burns, head of HSENI's major investigation team, said the standard for managing health and safety was far below what was appropriate for a prison.
Legionnaires' disease is a type of lung infection. The major source is water distribution systems in large buildings.
Tests were made after the dying inmate tested positive for Legionella bacterium. He was already terminally ill and became infected while in the prison's healthcare unit.
Mr Russell was transferred to the Causeway hospital but died.
The prison service has immunity from prosecution.
At a censure hearing at HSENI's headquarters in Belfast, the Northern Ireland Prison Service accepted the reprimand, although it stressed that there were mitigating factors.
It explained the action it had taken to prevent a recurrence across its estate.
Mr Burns added: ‘This case highlights the need for those in charge of premises to properly manage hot and cold water systems so as to minimise the risk from Legionella bacteria particularly where vulnerable people may be present.’
NIPS director general Robin Masefield accepted the findings but stressed that there were numerous mitigating circumstances.
‘The prison service regrets the outcome for this prisoner. His weak immune system left him particularly vulnerable and, unfortunately, he became infected with the bacteria when in the healthcare unit,’ he said.
Mr Masefield said clear and accountable reporting procedures need to be in place where more than one body is responsible for the management and oversight of contracts.
‘In this instance the private company which was responsible for the maintenance and inspection of the water treatment programme at the prison were not directly under contract to the prison service, but were part of a wider crown estate contract,’ he added.
‘Unfortunately, where the need for remedial work was identified, as in this case, it proved to be a less than satisfactory arrangement’, he said.
