Transgender Woman Secures High Court Order for Female Prison Transfer

News has emerged that a transgender woman successfully won a High Court case, leading to her transfer to Northern Ireland’s female prison. This occurred while she was facing charges related to threatening to kill her neighbour. Michelle James, aged 63, was relocated from Maghaberry Prison to Hydebank Wood on Thursday, following the initiation of court proceedings. The Department of Justice consented to the transfer after acknowledging an absence of policy concerning transgender prisoners. These details came to light in court when Ms James, residing at Main Road in Cloughey, was granted bail on Friday, allowing her to return to her residence. The retired chef is accused of making threats to kill in relation to an incident that took place earlier this month. According to prosecuting counsel Stephanie Boyd, Ms James told police officers who responded to the scene that she intended to use a knife on either herself or a nearby male resident, citing ongoing disputes between them. Mrs Boyd stated that Ms James “said she would stab the neighbour and feel happy about it.” Defence barrister Sean Doherty informed the court that Ms James initially had a good relationship with the alleged victim. He stated, “She felt comfortable enough to confide in the complainant and tell him her story.” However, her trust was reportedly violated, and she was (allegedly) subjected to bullying by the neighbour, who addressed her using her birth name, which she refers to as her “dead name.” The barrister contended that Ms James contacted the police “in desperation” and never directly issued any threats to the man. Mr Doherty explained that she was initially held in custody at Maghaberry Prison before legal proceedings were initiated earlier this week to facilitate the prison transfer. As Ms James sought authorization to return to her home address, Mr Doherty maintained that her continued detention on the charges would be disproportionate. Mr Justice Shaw consented to her release on bail, subject to a strict order prohibiting contact with the complainant. Outside the courtroom, Joseph Mulholland, Ms James’ solicitor, stated that the absence of a policy regarding transgender individuals in custody “has caused unnecessary delays and distress.” He added, “It is imperative that this policy vacuum is addressed as a matter of urgency to ensure fair and appropriate treatment for all.” BBC News NI has reached out to the Department of Justice for a statement. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.