The head of the Northern Ireland Prison Service (Nips) is leaving after just over a year the role to take charge of Scotland’s jails.
Colin McConnell (51) will be unveiled as the new chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service later today.
Mr McConnell, who is originally from Edinburgh, had been hired to lead a radical programme of reform inside Northern Ireland’s jails,
Nips had been heavily criticised in a series of inspection reports and the Scot was heralded as the man to deliver change.
His departure will come as a blow to Stormont Justice Minister David Ford, who is understood to be keen to appoint a replacement as soon as possible.
Mr McConnell will step down in May.
More than 550 prison officers in Northern Ireland have applied to take up a generous redundancy package offered as part of the reform programme.
About 150 of those will leave at the end of this month, with Nips set to hire 200 new custody officers.
Ulster Unionist Assembly Member Basil McCrea said news of Mr McConnell’s departure came days after another senior Nips official - change manager for the service Colin Bennett - left the service.
He said Mr Ford had to ensure that action was taken so the reforms could be carried through.
Mr Bennett, who left after around three months as change manager, has been replaced by Mark Adam.
Mr McCrea said: “It sounds like there are serious difficulties within the Prison Service and that the public is not being given the full picture. Is the Northern Ireland Prison Service in free-fall?
“Justice Minister David Ford has obviously a lot of work to do in order to develop confidence into the staff of the Prison Service and ensure there is proper management for the staff who are a very dedicated group of employees.”
PA