Four men have been arrested following protests at Maghaberry prison in support of a doctor who is on hunger strike.

A crowd of up to 200 people protested outside Maghaberry Prison, including protestors from Fermanagh who unfurled a banner reading, ‘Fermanagh against Internment’.

The protest was in support of Palestinian doctor Dr Issam Bassalat (62), who has been charged over alleged links to the New IRA.

Prisoners inside Maghaberry have been on hunger strike since September 16 in solidarity with the doctor, who is currently in isolation, having exited the prison for an MRI scan.

Republicans are demanding that Dr Bassalat be moved to Roe House – the wing of Maghaberry which houses Republican prisoners.

Four of the men are alleged to have committed “riotous behaviour and fireworks offences”.

A PSNI statement read: “Police have charged four men, aged in their 20s, with a number of public order offences including riotous behaviour and fireworks offences following disturbances outside Maghaberry Prison on Saturday, September 26.

“The four men are due to appear at Lisburn MC on Monday, September 28.

“As is normal procedure, all charges are reviewed by the PPS. Three of the men are aged 20 and one is aged 23.”