North West 200: The prisoners helping make the race work

Tommy said he is keen to move on with his life once released

For nearly 20 years, a handful of men have been working in secret to help make Northern Ireland's biggest annual sporting event possible.

Their involvement in the North West 200, described as "essential", has remained confidential until now.

The short bus ride has become a regular journey for the group and the crucial preparation work for the motorcycle road race is a job they relish.

"When you're locked in behind four walls all day it's not really helping anybody," said Tommy.

He is an inmate at Magilligan Prison in County Londonderry, with less than a year left to serve.

Tommy is one of a small handful of low-risk prisoners taking part in this pre-release programme run by the prison.

He turns off his hedge trimmer and takes a short break to talk to us.

"When you're out and about, you're getting in the community, you're more like a human again," he explained.

Tommy said he is keen to move on with his life once released.

"We're strimming today, cutting the grass, making everything nice and level for the car parks," he continued.

"We've been putting up fences right around the whole paddock lately, and putting up crash barriers. Different things like that."

He and other inmates have carried out many duties ahead of this year's event.

How do the prisoners help the North West 200?

Soon, the road-turned-racetrack will be ready for action.

The partnership between the event and Magilligan Prison began in the mid-2000s.

The inmates taking part are serving sentences for a range of crimes, including grievous bodily harm and drugs offences.

Malcolm McClenaghan said schemes like this one help prepare prisoners for release

Malcolm McClenaghan - the activities director at the prison - came up with the idea.

Over the years about 150 risk-assessed inmates have worked on the North West 200 scheme, he says.

The prison, he adds, is very focused on pre-release and the rehabilitation of inmates.

"We have numerous, probably in the region of 50 or 60, partners, on the north coast."

Asked about people who may think inmates should remain locked up and not involved in projects such as this, he replied: "Everyone is entitled to that thought. This is preparing prisoners for release."

He said it puts good work back into the community that the prisoners have offended against.

NW200 race boss Mervyn Whyte during the opening practice session at the 2023 North West 200

Like Malcolm, Mervyn White, chief organiser of the race and the man considered 'Mr North West 200', has been involved in the prisoner project from day one.

"Over the years we have never had any issues whatsoever, so the support is just essential to the running of the North West," he said.

"They come here, they enjoy the work, they enjoy the friendship.

"We get a cup of tea together. We sit down and discuss various things and it's an essential part of them moving on to life after serving their time in prison."

'Prison has changed me'

Others might be quick to point out that Mervyn's event also benefits significantly from a free workforce.

He said the project is "free labour" but the North West 200 has no paid employees and there is a huge voluntary effort required for the event to happen.

Across the road next to the media compound, another prisoner, Ommy, is helping to secure some metal fencing.

"Prison has changed me. It's changed me a lot," he outlined.

Ommy said the work is about "building up a reputation for ourselves"

"Just small things you take for granted when you're free.

"There's a variety of jobs that we are doing but it's about rehabilitation for us, coming outside, enjoying the weather and building up a reputation for ourselves."

Ommy is due for release later this year. After talking to BBC News NI he continued to work on the fencing.

The prisoners are nearing the end of their day's work and will soon be 20 miles away back inside Magilligan.

Within days, legions of fans and lightning-fast motorbikes will transform their peaceful place of work into a cauldron of noise.

But their job is not finished with the chequered flag.

When the racing's done, Tommy, Ommy and their fellow workers will return to clear the site.

It will bookend another year of an unlikely community partnership in Northern Ireland.

One that the North West 200 and Magilligan Prison intend to build upon in the years ahead.