A report clearing prison officers of abusing a suicidal Jamaican teenager at the women's prison was yesterday rejected as "a cover-up''.

The Treatment of Offenders Board's (TOOB) report released on Friday was filled with discrepancies, according to the two Jamaican women who made the allegations last November after several visits with drugs prisoner Theresa St.

John, 18.

Mrs. Sonia Lee Johnson and Mrs. Hazel Christopher stuck by their claims that prison guards had kicked St. John in the stomach causing her to miscarry.

And they insisted female guards had called her names such as "whore''.

St. John and her sister, Marlene, 21, serving five and seven years, were the only prisoners "outright refused'' permission to make phone calls on Mother's Day, hence, Theresa's refusal to return to her cell, the women said.

After being kicked, she was dragged across the floor on her back, they claimed.

They also insisted a blow to the back of St. John's head was delivered purposely by a male guard when she refused to hand over her bra.

She had used the bra a month earlier to try and kill herself.

Prison officers had claimed the injury was caused accidentally when she prevented entry into her cell by pushing the bed against the door.

She hit her head as officers forced open the door. The report found the degree of force used to restrain Theresa was "appropriate'' in both circumstances.

"The Prisons Commissioner Mr. (Edward) Dyer himself has seen the bruises on the girls. We are not making up stories,'' Mrs. Johnson said.

Mrs. Christopher added, "I have photographs of her bruises.'' They wanted to know why no prison officer had been disciplined despite the TOOB's lengthy list of recommendations and findings, including that the Prison Service "review its standards as to use of force and restraining methods''; that derogatory names "were used at times'' towards St. John; and she "did not receive appropriate or timely psychological counselling''.

"We don't consider the report a vindication,'' she said.

Prison officers had been negligent in their duties, she claimed.

"It's been a cover-up since day one,'' Mrs. Johnson said. "The report turns out to have proved right all those people who said to us nothing will come out of it.'' The women claimed prison officers at the Co-Ed Facility, mostly female guards, were continuing to pick on St. John and call her derogatory names.

They feared if the "retaliation'' abuse did not stop, St. John would kill herself.

She "appeared unstable'' when they last saw her and recently made a fifth attempt at suicide, they said.

Mrs. Johnson said she was grateful to the TOOB for looking into the claims and making the recommendations.

"But the fact of the matter is there are a lot of discrepancies,'' she said.

Mrs. Johnson said she would continue to visit St.

John and keep an eye on her situation.

She said she was thankful to the prison workers, local churches and the Jamaican Grill for their efforts at helping St. John and her sister Marlene, 21, who is serving seven years.

The report found there was "no evidence that undue force was used against Theresa St. John by any prison officer'' while she was awaiting trial at the Co-Ed Facility last year.

It said her hospital file found no evidence of blows to the abdomen. And doctors said it was "unlikely'' spontaneous abortions could be inflicted by such blows.

The Commissioner, after making the report available to the media last Friday, said steps have already been taken to give officers training in human relations. And all staff had been reminded it was an offence to use derogatory names at prisoners.

Mr. Dyer also said that all of the TOOB's recommendation's would be fully implemented by the time the new prison was occupied.