The British government is facing a multi-million pound bill to resettle and protect Northern Ireland prison officers whose personal details were found in the hands of an alleged IRA spy ring.
Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Paul Murphy is giving final consideration to details of a scheme which would allow some 1,400 officers to move home or have security measures installed at their present homes.
Home moves can cost up to £20,000 an officer, providing security measures for those wishing to remain in the current home can also costs thousands of pounds per property.
The names of officers who were working in the Maze, Magilligan and Maghaberry prisons in the autumn of 2001 were found in the hands of republicans seven weeks ago by police investigating an alleged spy ring at the heart of government at Stormont.
A row between the Prison Service and the Prison Officers' Association over who should be included in the scheme escalated today into full scale protest action.
Up to 85 per cent of officers due to work either phoned in sick or turned up and then went off sick.
The top security Maghaberry Prison in Co Antrim, Magilligan in Co Derry and the Hydebank Young Offenders Centre in Co Down were all "seriously affected" said the Prison service. The Maze has been shut down.
The Police Service drafted in 200 officers to maintain the running of the jails and security, but all visits were stopped, court appearances halted and prisoners left locked in their cells.
The Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, Mr Peter Russell blasted the prison officers for their supposed sickness.
"I don't believe they are all suddenly sick. It beggars belief some malady struck so many prison officers and no prisoners - it's just not plausible."
Industrial action was not the way of resolving the dispute, that could only be done by discussion, he insisted.
Mr Finlay Spratt, chairman of the Prison Officers' Association met with Mr Murphy on Monday to discuss the situation, he added. "I don't think it is realistic to make a pitch to the Secretary of State and to take action 36 hours later." The dispute centres around who should be included in any protection or resettlement scheme.
PA