Imprisoned Loyalists and Republicans were released from prison today as the latest wave of prisoner release began in Northern Ireland. 78 prisoners were released from Maze prison. It started with 8 members of the UVF, followed by a group of men from the UDA/UFF, LVF and INLA. 46 members of the Provisional IRA were the last to be released. 2. Detainees belonging to organisations that have not concluded or are not respecting a complete and unambiguous ceasefire shall not benefit from the regime. The situation in this regard is constantly being reviewed. The H-blocks emptied today in just three hours as the government released the last large group of 78 prisoners under the conditions of early release under the Good Friday Agreement. Seven others were released from Maghaberry Jail a few miles away in County Antrim and one from Magilligan Jail in County Londonderry.
On the day Magee was released, Prime Minister Tony Blair admitted that the releases were «very difficult to bear». In early 1999, opposition leader William Hague called for an end to early release, claiming that the barrage of punitive strikes on both sides violated the Good Friday Agreement. 1. Both Governments shall establish mechanisms providing for an accelerated programme for the release of prisoners, including transferred prisoners convicted in Northern Ireland of planned offences or, in the case of those convicted outside Northern Ireland, of similar offences (hereinafter referred to as `qualified prisoners`). These agreements protect the rights of detainees under national and international law. 3. The two governments will complete a review process within a set time frame and set the expected release dates for all qualified prisoners. The review procedure provides for the advance of the dates of release of qualified prisoners, while taking into account the seriousness of the offences for which the person has been convicted and the need to protect the Community.
In addition, it would be provided that, if circumstances permit, all qualified inmates who remained in custody two years after the start of the program would be released at that time. Former UVF commander Johnny Adair, who himself was released prematurely from the maze a few months ago, greeted the aspiring prisoners. «My friends and comrades are the home of their families,» he said. «I hope this is the end of the conflict, the end of the labyrinth – more suffering, more pain and more young men who have to go back to prison. (2) Prisoners belonging to organizations that have not implemented or will not implement a complete and unambiguous ceasefire will not benefit from these agreements. The situation in this regard will be further examined. All the major terrorist groups still have the strange limb behind bars of the maze. Three of the eight H blocks of the 800-cell prison are already closed. The prison administration plans to talk to other inmates to see if they can be housed in one block and if there are four others that can be closed. (1) Both Governments shall establish mechanisms providing for an accelerated programme for the release of prisoners, including transferred prisoners, convicted in Northern Ireland of offences or, in the case of persons convicted outside Northern Ireland, of similar offences (hereinafter referred to as `qualified prisoners`). These rules protect prisoners` rights under national and international law.
The early release of prisoners is one of the most difficult parts of the Good Friday Agreement. The Northern Ireland (Sentencing) Act provides the framework for release and contains important safeguards for the protection of the public. Up to 500 loyalist and Republican prisoners convicted before the agreement are expected to be released before the programme deadline, which is currently set at July 2000. Prisoners sentenced to five years or more in prison will serve only one third of their sentence. Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment serve prison sentences comparable to those of a prisoner who has not been convicted of terrorist offences, less than one third. TOMORROW, more than 80 of Northern Ireland`s most feared and despised terrorists will be released under the Good Friday Agreement. Up to 500 loyalist and Republican prisoners are expected to be released before the agreement ends before the end of the program`s deadline, which is currently set at July 2000. Prisoners sentenced to five years or more in prison serve only one third of their sentence. Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment serve less than one third of the prison sentences comparable to those of an unconvicted person who has not been convicted of terrorist crimes. The Telegraph is today publishing the most comprehensive list of names made available to the public to date. These include many of the most experienced terrorism practitioners in Ulster.
The requests were forwarded to the Northern Ireland Prison Service, which had three weeks to verify the accuracy of the crimes and sentences described in detail and to confirm that the prisoners were members of the group that could be released. Regarding the prison, he added: «These barbed wire fences and cannon towers tell a very dark and brutal story that many in our society ignore. Only those who have lived in this gray and cruel world of captivity can truly understand the needs and sufferings it can bring. Since the program began 22 months ago, a total of 428 terrorists have been released, 143 of whom have served life sentences. .