Republican prisoner Dessie O'Hare, who is serving a 40 year jail term, is currently on temporary release, it emerged tonight.
The INLA activist, nicknamed "The Border Fox", was allowed out of Castlerea Prison in County Roscommon for "a couple of overnights", according to sources in the Irish Prison Service.
He is due back on Sunday.
O'Hare, from Co Armagh, kidnapped and assaulted Dublin dentist John O 'Grady in 1987.
He demanded a IR £1.5 million ransom and cut off the tops of two of Mr O 'Grady's fingers during the ordeal.
Last year, O'Hare was granted 36-hour special leave to attend the Glencree Centre for Reconciliation in Co Wicklow.
An official spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service said tonight that he could not comment on individual prisoners, or give reasons for their temporary release.