A decision has been taken to temporarily remove a support dog from a Derry prison after what has been described as a "callous and calculated threat" to its safety.
In a statement, the Northern Ireland Prison Service said that Bailey the support dog had to be moved from Magilligan Prison, after the PSNI warned that the dog may be harmed "in an attempt to embarrass" the Governor of the prison.
"A perfectly happy and well looked after dog at Magilligan Prison has had to be moved after the PSNI made us aware of a callous and calculated external threat to say that Bailey was going to be harmed in an attempt to embarrass the Governor," the statement said.
"The welfare of Bailey has always been and will always be the Service's priority. He was safe and cared for when he was living at Magilligan, he is safe and being cared for now."
The statement outlined the benefits of having support dogs in prisons, such as support to prisoners with poor mental health and addiction issues, positive changes in behaviour and the reduction of stress and anxiety.
"These benefits can contribute to reducing the risk that someone might re-offend and prevent further victims of crime in the future," the statement continued.
"Dogs are utilised in prisons across these islands for this purpose and have been supporting prisoners in Northern Ireland for over 20 years. The current challenges facing the Prison Service are well documented and this issue and the level of inaccurate and sensationalist reporting surrounding it has unfortunately been an unnecessary distraction."
A protest was held outside Magilligan prison today amid concerns for Bailey's welfare, led by charity Causeway Coast Dog Rescue.
The charity are calling for the permanent removal of the dog from Magilligan prison.
"We have very little clarity on Bailey's current position, but one thing is clear, Bailey is not free," charity manager Tara Cunningham said in a statement.
"There has been no formal confirmation from Magilligan Prison that Bailey has been relocated to a family environment away from the prison on a permanent basis, only unofficial remarks from colleagues and hearsay.
"Serious governance questions remain about how Bailey was placed in the prison to begin with, and why he has now been removed temporarily, apparently timed to coincide with a scheduled prison inspection by the governing board."
Causeway Coast Dog Rescue say they remain "deeply disappointed with scant responses" to their questions about the dog's welfare, and alleged that there was "no managed plan, no safeguards, no protocols, and no regulatory framework for housing a dog permanently inside a secure prison."
"That is unacceptable for any animal and the statement made by the original owner raises additional questions to how he was obtained," the statement continued.
The charity say they will continue "to demand clarity, transparency, and accountability, for Bailey's welfare and for every animal used in government-funded projects."
"We must have a Policy Framework for Dogs in Prisons and we must have transparency and regulation to protect animals in this environment," the statement concluded.
