HMP Magilligan: Northern Ireland’s Resettlement Prison – Full Guide
Last reviewed: July 2026
Northern Ireland’s prison system is small – just three prisons – and Magilligan is its resettlement specialist. If someone you know is being transferred there from Maghaberry, that is generally a step in the right direction. Here is what to expect.
Key facts at a glance
| Detail | HMP Magilligan |
|---|---|
| Run by | Northern Ireland Prison Service (Department of Justice NI) |
| Security level | Medium-to-low security, closed; plus Foyleview resettlement unit |
| Who it holds | Sentenced adult men with 6 years or less left to serve |
| Capacity | Around 568 (just under 500 held at the September 2025 inspection) |
| Address | Point Road, Limavady, Co. Londonderry |
| Visit booking | Online via nidirect, or 0300 200 7866 (weekdays) / 028 7772 0449 (weekends) |
| Last inspection | September 2025 (CJI/HMIP) – rated ‘good’ across the board |
What kind of prison is Magilligan?
Magilligan sits on Magilligan Point, by the mouth of Lough Foyle, about eight miles from Limavady. Its job is preparing men for release: almost everyone there is in the final stretch of a sentence, and around 40 men a month leave for the community. The Foyleview unit offers lower-security conditions and working-out opportunities, similar in spirit to an open prison in England. Remand prisoners and long-sentence men early in their sentence are held at Maghaberry instead – see our overview of prisons in Northern Ireland.
One of the UK’s better inspection reports
Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, working with HM Inspectorate of Prisons, inspected Magilligan unannounced over 9–26 September 2025. The result was unusually positive: ‘good’ – the highest rating – on all four healthy-prison tests (safety, respect, purposeful activity and resettlement). More than four-fifths of prisoners were in education, training or work, a higher proportion than almost any comparable prison in England and Wales. Inspectors still wanted improvements: shorter waits to see a doctor, more accredited offending-behaviour programmes, more consistent use of body-worn cameras, and better support for a growing number of neurodivergent men. The report is on the CJI website.
The estate itself is a mixed bag – modern accommodation blocks stand alongside structures dating back to the site’s military past. Investment is continuing: a large new training kitchen and café opened in 2025, and a further 60-cell block and a pre-release unit are at the planning stage.
Visiting Magilligan
Visits can be booked online through the nidirect prison-visit service (you will need the prisoner’s number and your visitor ID details) or by phone on 0300 200 7866 on weekdays, 028 7772 0449 at weekends. Video visits are also available. Bring photo ID. Be realistic about travel: the prison is rural, on the A2 between Limavady and the Point, so allow plenty of time if you are coming from Belfast or Derry. Our general guides to visiting a prisoner and visiting rules apply in spirit, though NI has its own booking system. Site founder Daniel Hockey, who served a sentence himself and finished in resettlement conditions, always makes the same point about prisons like Magilligan: the last months matter most, and visits are a huge part of keeping a man steady as release approaches (his story).
• “Magilligan takes remand prisoners.” No – remand men in Northern Ireland go to Maghaberry. Magilligan is for sentenced men nearing release.
• “I book through GOV.UK.” Northern Ireland uses its own nidirect booking service, not the England-and-Wales one.
• “A ‘good’ inspection means there are no problems.” Inspectors still flagged healthcare waits, programme shortages and support for neurodivergent prisoners.
Frequently asked questions
How does someone get moved to Magilligan?
Sentenced men are assessed and transferred, usually from Maghaberry, once they have six years or less left to serve and meet the security criteria.
What is Foyleview?
A lower-security resettlement unit within Magilligan where men can take up work placements and prepare for release with greater freedom.
Are video visits available?
Yes – virtual visits can be booked through the same nidirect system, useful given the prison’s remote location.
Is Magilligan closing?
A long-mooted full redevelopment has slipped repeatedly; instead, phased new building is under way on the existing site. There is no confirmed closure or replacement date.
Sources: nidirect – Magilligan Prison; Criminal Justice Inspection NI; Department of Justice NI.
