Security minister Jane Kennedy is under pressure to separate republican and loyalist inmates at Maghaberry Prison as the row over a dirty protest intensifies.
Ms Kennedy yesterday (Wednesday) rejected claims that up to 10 Real IRA and Continuity IRA men had been beaten and hosed down in their cells at the high-security jail. She also said there were no plans to review segregation policy at the prison.
But a senior loyalist linked to the UDA warned the two sides could not live together behind bars. Ulster Political Research Group spokesman Tommy Kirkham said: "These men are sworn enemies on the outside so how can they expect them to put up with a single regime inside?
"Republicans have already made an issue of this and loyalists will want to soon."
The row flared after prisoners smeared excrement on their cell walls during a week-long protest against being forced to share blocks with loyalists.
Dissident republican spokeswoman Marian Price claimed prisoners were beaten and hosed down when warders moved in on Tuesday.
"These men are prepared to do whatever it takes to get segregation and I find that very worrying," she said.
The Northern Ireland Prison Service has denied the allegations and Ms Kennedy has accused the dissidents of trying to cause chaos.
Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly claimed prisoners in Maghaberry were having to live in "unacceptable" conditions and called on the British government not to repeat the "mistakes" of the past.
"The prison system seems to have regressed to the draconian standards employed against republican prisoners pre-hunger strike," he said.
