PRISON SERVICE RECEIVES FREEDOM OF BOROUGH OF ARDS

The Northern Ireland Prison Service has received the Ards Borough's highest honour and its members are now officially 'Freemen'.

Over 150 representatives of the Prison Service, including past and serving Officers and widows, gathered for a ceremony in Newtownards on Friday 29 February at which the organisation officially received the Freedom of the Borough from Mayor of Ards, Councillor Robin Drysdale.

The honour was given by Ards Borough Council in recognition of the vital role played by Prison Service staff over the years, often in the most difficult of circumstances.

"The work of the Prison Service can too often be taken for granted and yet it is crucial to our safety and well being as a society and equally, to the positive development and rehabilitation of those who spend time in custody. Its staff both past and present have undertaken their duties with courage and determination in some of the most dangerous periods of our history," said the Mayor.

"Bestowing this honour is a very public acknowledgement of the enormous part the Prison Service has in protecting our communities and there can be few more worthy recipients".

A specially commissioned silver replica of Scrabo Tower together with a hand-illuminated certificate was presented to the Prison Service at the event.

The honour was accepted on behalf of the Prison Service by its Director, Robin Masefield, CBE. He said;

"It is a huge honour to accept this prestigious Freedom of the Borough bestowal from Ards Borough Council. I pay heart- felt tribute to those who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty whilst working for the Prison Service and I feel humbled to accept this award on behalf of present and past members of the Service and the wider Prison Service family.

"The Prison Service places high importance on doing its job on behalf of the whole community with the utmost professionalism and this tremendous honour acknowledges our role in protecting the public. There have been many historic links between the Prison Service and the Borough, including the Prison Service College at Millisle, and I hope such links will continue for many years to come."

The Northern Ireland Prison Service becomes only the eleventh recipient of the Freedom of the Borough of Ards since the honour was first granted in 1948.