The proposed £200 million prison being built at Magilligan has been welcomed by East Londonderry DUP MP and MLA Gregory Campbell, and his Assembly DUP colleague George Robinson.

Plans for the prison were announced by Security Minister Paul Goggins on Tuesday.

In a joint statement the men said: “With the new larger design specifications, the increase in the workforce needed to staff the prison is also a welcome boost to our local economy.”

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They said: “The people who will benefit from the construction jobs created and those who will fill the additional employment opportunities that the larger prison will create will be happy that we have delivered what they have been seeking for many years.”

The DUP pair said that the 430 jobs currently at the prison would be preserved with a potential 130 extra posts, which had been met with “delight” by local people.

He said: “This should prove to be viable employment which will not suffer the same prospect of being relocated to Morocco or the Far East when economic fortunes change as has happened to some in the manufacturing sector.”

(BMcC)