A total of 86 republican and loyalist prisoners will be released from the Maze Prison today before the jail finally closes. They include some of the North's most controversial paramilitary inmates.
Among those who will walk free are Sean Kelly, responsible for the deaths of nine people in the Shankill bombing seven years ago; Torrens Knight, who killed 11 people, including seven in the UDA gun attack on the Rising Sun bar in Greysteel in 1993; and four members of the Provisional IRA's deadly south Armagh sniper unit.
They are the final batch of prisoners to be granted early release under the terms of the Belfast Agreement. A total of 428 inmates will have been freed without completing their sentences.
Fifteen prisoners will not be walking out of the Maze today because they do not fulfil the criteria set out by the agreement. In most cases, they have not served two years of their sentences or they are imprisoned for non-scheduled offences.
It is understood these men will be moved to neighbouring Maghaberry jail. They include two Provisional IRA, five INLA, three LVF, three UVF and two UDA inmates.
There are already about 20 paramilitary prisoners in Maghaberry, both sentenced and on remand. They are not eligible for release under the terms of the agreement mainly because they are charged with offences committed after the document was signed or else they are anti-agreement republican prisoners. They include one Continuity IRA and six "Real IRA" inmates.
Prisoners have accused the authorities of trying to take away the "political status" effectively granted in the Maze. Provisional IRA prisoners being released today will be met by Sinn Fein Assembly member Mr Gerry Kelly, who will read a statement.
It is understood they have decided against public celebrations or cavalcades. However, several private functions will be held in republican areas tonight.
UVF prisoners are believed to be keen to adopt a similarly low-key approach. However, loyalist sources said some UDA inmates might hold press conferences.
Four of the most high-profile Provisional IRA prisoners being released are members of the deadly south Armagh sniper team. Micheal Caraher (32), from Cullyhanna, is believed to have killed at least seven members of the security forces using the Barrett Light 50 rifle.
Bernard McGinn (42), from Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, was involved in the 1997 murder of Lance-Bombardier Stephen Restorick, the last British soldier to be killed in the North. He was also convicted for the Baltic Exchange bomb, which killed three people in 1992, and Canary Wharf, in which two newsagents died in 1997.
James McArdle (31), from Crossmaglen, who was also convicted for Canary Wharf, will be released, as will Martin Mines, from Silverbridge, who was sentenced to 50 years for conspiracy to murder and possession of weapons.