DAILY NEWS

4 Corners Festival goes to prison for launch

Photo above – Pictured at the launch of 4 Corners Festival 2020 in Hydebank Wood Secure College are (from left) Rev Steve Stockman; Cheryl Lamont, CBE, Chief Executive of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland; Ronnie Armour, Director General, Northern Ireland Prisons; and Fr Martin Magill.

A little bit of history was made this past weekend when a prison in Northern Ireland ( or maybe anywhere else for that matter ) hosted the launch of a festival – our own 4 Corners Festival 2020 – for the first time ever.

More than 100 people attended the launch in Hydebank Wood Secure College which shares a site with Northern Ireland’s Women’s Prison.

The event was co-hosted by the Northern Ireland Prison Service and the Probation Board for Northern Ireland.

The audience which included the Presbyterian Moderator, Rev Dr William Henry and Fr Eugene O’Hagan, representing Bishop Noel Treanor of Down and Connor, and the former Methodist President, Rev Dr Harold Good, heard Ms Cheryl Lamont, CBE, the Chief Executive of the Probation Board say that “how offenders are rehabilitated during their sentences is one of the least understood area of public policy.”

Ms Lamont, said there was a role for wider civic society to play its part in the rehabilitation of offenders.

Mr Ronnie Armour, Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service said: “The problems of society are concentrated in our prisons and therefore it is vital thatwe challenge offending behavior and support individuals to change.”

Mr Armour welcomed the opportunity to co-host with Probation colleagues the launch of the 2020 4 corners festival at Hydebank Wood Secure College.

He said “It is the first time such a festival has been launched in a prison and is a demonstration that Prisons are now very much part of the community. They are not apart from the community.”

“An event like this in a custodial environment would just have been unthinkable not that long ago.”

Reflecting on the theme of the festival, he said “Building a City of Grace has at its core a desire to make society better by delivering real change. Changing lives and making communities safer is central to the work of the Prison Service as prison staff and our partners focus on rehabilitation, resettlement and reintegration of those in our care.”

Reflecting on the challenges of society, Mr Armour said: “The problems of society are concentrated in our prisons and therefore it is vital that we challenge offending behaviour and support individuals to change.”

Commenting on the work of the Prison Service and Probation he said: “Delivering rehabilitation is complex and demanding and can only be achieved when positive and constructive relationships exist between staff and those in their care. That ethos is central to the work we do.”

Ms Lamont said: “I am delighted to have this opportunity to speak at the launch of the 4 Corners Festival programme for 2020.

“The Probation Board have a range of partnerships across government, justice and the voluntary and community sectors. There is, however, a role for wider civic society. An event like this brings together people from all four corners of the City who are interested in hearing more about the work of probation and prisons and could potentially provide another dimension in involving individuals to turn their lives around.

“How offenders are rehabilitated during their sentences is one of the least understood area of public policy. That is why events like this are so important. The more we talk about it, and engage with wider society, the better we will know what is involved and how everyone can play a role in building – not only safer communities – but communities of grace”.

“When I reflect on the theme of the 4 Corners Festival ‘Building a City of Grace’ I am immediately reminded of the saying; ‘there for the grace of God go I’; how many of us here tonight have ever said those words? Interestingly the origin of that saying was by an English evangelical preacher and martyr, John Bradford who is said to have uttered a variant of the expression when seeing criminals being led to the scaffold. Whatever the origin, there is no doubt many of us have much to be grateful for – a stable home – a supportive family – a decent education – a good job. For in different circumstances who knows what choices or decision we would have made.

Rev Steve Stockman said: “If I played for Ulster at Rugby or Antrim at Gaelic I would listen to my coach. I would reckon that the first thing they say as they set out their stall and the last thing they says before we go on the pitch would be the most crucial. Jesus starts and ends his coaching with his disciples by talking about prisoners. It seems that those sentenced in our courts whether sent to prison or on probation are close to Jesus’ heart and mission. So, with the theme Building a City of Grace we believe that asking questions as to what we do with those sentenced in our courts is a crucial issue to ask questions about. Grace is a powerfully redemptive word and we who follow Jesus believe that even those who commit the worst of human crimes can be redeemed.”

Fr Martin Magill said: “In the preparation for the launch of this year’s 4 Corners Festival, I have met staff from NI Prisons and the Probation Board NI on a number of occasions. As a result of these meetings, I have learned about the work and ethos of both organisations and now view what they do in a new way. I believe there is need for a wider civic understanding of the work of prisons and also how we support the probation service.”


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