Comfort dog Bailey has since been removed from the prison wing where he was housed with sex offenders.
The Sunday World has been approached by yet another Prison Service source who has lifted the lid on years of what he claims was abusive behaviour and neglect of animals across the prison estate.
The shocking dossier has emerged amid claims prison bosses have warned staff they face disciplinary action should anyone talk to the media.
There is understood to be fury at the top of the service since the Sunday World first reported on the plight of Bailey.
The cocker spaniel was brought into Magilligan after he was purchased from a family in a cash transaction after at least two dog rescue shelters declined to supply a dog when they learned it would be going to jail.
Prison dog Bailey
News in 90 Seconds, Thursday, October 23
Bailey has since been removed from the prison wing where he was housed with sex offenders – some of whom are serving sentences for extreme sexual violence – after police reported they had received a credible threat to do the dog harm.
Bailey is understood to be now living with a member of prison staff but it is not clear if this is a permanent arrangement, although officials confirmed to the Sunday World he would not be returning to Magilligan. No staff or dog training was in place before Bailey was introduced to the prisoners. He was housed in a laundry room on H2 where he slept in a crate.
According to the dog’s previous owner, Bailey is “nervous’’ around men but was still placed in the care of a sex offender who was attacked while with Bailey.
According to our source Bailey was clearly stressed.
We can also reveal that on one occasion Bailey managed to escape the block and was wandering the prison grounds before being returned to his crate.
But now a reliable source has come forward with disturbing tale of neglect involving other dogs but also includes the mistreatment of sheep, goats, ponies, donkeys and koi carp fish.
The source said they were coming forward out of frustration and despite what they described as a “threatening’’ message from prison bosses.
File photo dated 18/12/07 of a as sign at Magilligan Prison Photo: Paul Faith/PA Wire…A
“It’s more like working in a prison in Siberia rather than Northern Ireland 2025,” the source said.
The source described a “panicky” prison leadership desperately drawing up protocols that should have been in place before animals were brought in.
“As far as I am aware there are no staff that have a background in caring for animals, no-one even with a farming background that would at least give them some knowledge about how to care or sheep and goats etc,” the source said.
The Sunday World can detail shocking incidents including other dogs across the prison estate losing drastic amounts of weight because they routinely were not fed. Two sheep had to be euthanised because of a lice infestation.
“They were being eaten alive by lice, it was terrible and the only thing that could be done was to put them to sleep,” our source claimed.
The source alleged four goats had to be put to sleep and two others had to be removed from one of the prisons after suffering injuries to their legs because of being kept in cramped conditions, forcing them to kneel on a concrete floor.
The animals have been kept at all three prison sites – Magilligan, Maghaberry and Hydebank – where there are two ponds stocked with exotic koi carp fish.
A donkey had to be removed after its hooves became deformed after they hadn’t been clipped for a long period of time, our source said.
Perhaps most disturbingly an outbreak of avian flu among 200 ducks and hens kept at Magilligan resulted in two culled birds being fed to a pair of ferrets, it was claimed.
The source said veterinary visits were a rarity – “maybe once over a period of a year”.
In another incident five pedigree Teeswater sheep were introduced along with a ram to cover them. The source said the ram was never on the prison site but the sheep were taken away to be covered but only ever returned with one lamb.
The spotlight on the care of animals in the jail system was turned on after we first revealed how Bailey had been brought in.
Staff were so concerned that a number of them approached the Sunday World, and it is understood a number of others have been in touch with animal rescue charities to voice concerns.
Ulster Unionist MLA Jon Burrows has described the Bailey case as “criminal”.
According to our source there is no one on the prison staff who has any formal training in how to care and look after livestock. “Take the Koi carp for example, they’re exotic fish, they need to be carefully looked after.”
The Sunday World put a series of questions to the Prison Service including the cost to the taxpayer of buying and supposedly caring for animals. They failed to address specific issues but a spokesperson confirmed Bailey would not be returning to Magilligan.
“The Prison Service is aware of a number of unsubstantiated allegations regarding animal care at Magilligan. They are untrue,” a spokesperson said.
“On Friday 22 September Bailey had to be moved from Magilligan Prison after an external threat was received to say that he was going to be harmed in an attempt to embarrass the Governor of Magilligan. Following careful consideration, the Governor, acting in the best interests of Bailey’s physical and emotional wellbeing, made the operational decision that he would not return to Magilligan. “
The spokesperson said if staff had concerns they have a duty to report them to prison authorities.
“While the Prison Service does not comment on internal staffing matters, prison staff are subject to Prison Rules and a Code of Ethics. These form part of their terms and conditions of employment.
“Should any member of staff have credible information or concerns, they should use relevant HR policies and processes, including ‘Raising a Concern’ to raise any such issues.”