NEWLY committed prisoners will continue to be held in quarantine despite a change to Covid-19 quarantine rules in the community.
Earlier this week the requirement to self isolate was relaxed for people who have been fully vaccinated.
Close contacts are now being told take a PCR test on day two and day eight of what would have been their 10-day isolation period.
Prison Service chiefs last night said the rules in the north's main detention facilities have not changed.
The decision comes as a prisoner hospitalised after suffering a stroke launched legal action after he was forced to isolate for 10 days on his return to jail.
Derry man Martin McGill, who has had a double vaccination, spent several nights in Altnagelvin Hospital before being brought back to Magilligan Prison last month.
His solicitor Aiden Carlin, of Carlin Solicitors, last night said his client required further hospital treatment at the weekend and has now been told his isolation release date has been put back to August 30.
Mr Carlin said his client has spent around 50 days in isolation so far this year after requiring medical treatment.
The solicitor added that he has written to Magilligan Prison "respectfully submitting that it is unlawful, unnecessary, and disproportionate to continue to hold prisoners in isolation where they are fully vaccinated and have not tested positive".
Mr Carlin said: "We have requested all material relating to NIPS policy, Public Health Agency guidance, and the continuation of Covid quarantine for fully vaccinated people because is at odds with the lifting of restrictions in the community."
A spokesman for the Prison Service said the rules remain unchanged.
"Prisons continue to be classified as high risk environments in relation to Covid-19.
"In line with national guidance, the Prison Service will continue to quarantine new committals for 14 days and any prisoner in the general population who is identified as a close contact will be required to isolate for 10 days.
"This is kept under constant review in line with the national guidance on custodial environments."
