Background to the Research

• An Loiste Uir ex-prisoner support group was established to provide a support mechanism for all those from the area who have been imprisoned as a result of the political conflict in Ireland. Members of the group felt that politically motivated ex-prisoners face additional difficulties and experience different types of problem to those usually encountered by the rest of the community especially in the provision of employment and training opportunities.
• It was in this context that the New Lodge Community Forum decided to research the problems affecting this politically motivated ex-prisoners from the area and regarded as a necessary first step towards the establishment of a sustainable support system for ex-prisoners.
  

Research Approach

• A database of prisoners and ex-prisoners originating from the New Lodge/Newington area was compiled.
• One hundred and seventy-seven ex-prisoners responded to a short questionnaire, intended to provide demographic information and respondents views about their current situation as an ex-prisoner. The survey also provided employment figures, following which a skills audit was conducted. The survey was conducted door to door to maximise the response rate.
• Sixty-two individuals also volunteered to be interviewed, of which 40 were interviewed using an in-depth structured schedule. The sample comprised participants selected on the basis of their gender, age and length and type of prison sentence. The number of women interviewed was purposely boosted, given the relatively low percentage of female ex-prisoners compared to males. Interviews took place over a six month period.

Main findings

• The database currently contains 440 prisoners and ex-prisoners in the New Lodge/Newington areas.
• 61% of respondents were unemployed.
• 75.7% of respondents had no educational qualifications.
• Of the 30.5% (54) of respondents employed, the largest group (12) were working in the community sector.
• 97.1% of respondents claimed that imprisonment and its related effects had disrupted the development of work based skills and 87% agreed further, that it had increased their concerns over personal safety.
• 88.1% of respondents said help was not available to them from government, statutory or voluntary agencies either during or after their imprisonment.
• 93.7% of respondents said that they would support the establishment of, and use a locally based ex-prisoner support structure.
• 57.5% of interviewees had spent more than one term in prison.
• The total time spent in prison by 40 of the interviewees amounted to 235 years.
• All of those interviewed said that the effects of imprisonment had placed restrictions on their prospects of finding employment.
• 87.5% of interviewees had reason to believe that their personal details were in the possession of loyalists and that this was a significant factor in gaining or sustaining employment.
• 75% of interviewees said that harassment from the RUC and British Army was also a significant factor in gaining or sustaining employment.
• 97.5% of interviewees said they would like the opportunity to develop their skills further.
• All of those interviewed said that the effects of imprisonment had adverse psychological consequences for themselves and their families.
• It is estimated that 1300 children in the New Lodge/Newington area have been affected by their parent(s) imprisonment.