Prieur shifted to Christchurch

Press, 28 December 1985, Page 1

Prieur shifted to Christchurch

Staff at Christchurch Women’s Prison are watching closely the French secret agent, Dominique Prieur, after her transfer to the prison yesterday. Prieur will be studied to see what type of security she rates and whether she has any special needs, according to the prison’s superintendent, Mr Jack Allen. Her transfer yesterday to Christchurch Women’s Prison from Mount Eden Prison in Auckland was the fifth move Prieur has had in custody. She was previously in

Christchurch Women’s Prison for 10 days in September and has also spent time in the Defence Department’s prison at Ardmore. Prieur, aged 36, a captain in the French army, and a fellow agent; Major Alain Mafart, were jailed last month for 10 years for their part in the blowing up of the Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior and the death of a crew member. Mr Allen is trying to downplay the presence of Prieur at the prison. He said that she was just a normal prisoner and would be treated as such.

! The transfer of Prieur was made under tight secur- '■ ity. Rumours have circulated in Christchurch recently that Prieur would be trans--1 ferred to the women’s 1 prison. ! Security at the prison is also believed to have been improved recently. Mr Allen would not comment on that i The Minister of Justice, Mr Palmer, said yesterday that the transfer was in accordance with normal ’ procedure. i It was standard practice I to transfer to the prison women serving long sen-

tences. It had a section for maximum security, he said. “She remained at Mount Eden until after Christmas to meet a request by her lawyers.” It was opportune to transfer her yesterday with a scheduled Royal New Zealand Air Force flight, said Mr Palmer. “It is not unusual to transfer prisoners between the North Island and South Island in this way.” Mr Allen would not say whether Prieur would serve the rest of her sentence in Christchurch. Prieur was previously

held in the remand section of the prison, but this time it is likely that she will be held in the long-term section, which has 39 inmates. She will probably have her own cell. She will also have access to facilities such as a television set, table tennis, and regular movies. Dental and medical services are available at the prison. Prison staff did not expect any problems in communicating with Prieur, said Mr Allen. “She can make herself well understood in English,” he said.