Shadow Health Minister Kim Young has called for a swift end to suffering she said has been caused to prison officers involved in an alleged rape investigation at the Co-Ed Facility.

Mrs. Young said the whole affair surrounding the now-closed criminal inquiry into the alleged rape of a young British inmate, and her subsequent transfer back to the UK, was "a debacle''.

And she said it may look as though the incident had been swept under the carpet if swift justice was not rendered for the three men.

The officers are waiting to hear what, if any, disciplinary action will be taken against them by Commissioner of Prisons Edward Dyer. He is currently reviewing a file passed by the Attorney General's Chambers to decide what the next step will be.

The Shadow Minister questioned what sort of message the repatriation of the 19-year-old inmate sent to other prisoners.

"Why were we so quick to send her back,'' she asked. "It really sends the wrong message.

"Are we going to get a whole flood of complaints, are we going to send them back on allegations? "These prison officers have suffered because the Attorney General's Chambers have said there is no case, so they may have suffered for no reason at all.

"The whole affair was handled extremely badly.'' The allegations came to light in March, when the inmate claimed she had been raped whilst at the Ferry Reach Facility, while intoxicated.

Three prison officers were suspended and a Police investigation was launched.

Shortly after the inmate was transferred back to the UK, following a plea from her lawyer Mark Pettingill and her family in London.

She is currently serving the remainder of a six-year sentence for smuggling heroin into Bermuda in 1997.

Mrs. Young queried why a decision from Mr. Dyer was not more forthcoming, bearing in mind the length of the investigation, and as the Prisons Service was short staffed.

"If the Attorney General's Chambers think there is no case to answer, why has Mr. Dyer not made a decision more quickly?,'' she said. "I am sure these people have suffered from these allegations.

"Justice should be swift.'' Mr. Dyer and Mark Pettingill could not be contacted last night.

Prisons debacle: Shadow Health Minister Kim Young Graphic file name: KIYOUNG