A SLIGHTLY smaller number of prisoners than last year will be given temporary release this Christmas, and the renewed IRA campaign is likely to curtail parole for republican paramilitary prisoners.
The Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, is expected to announce details of the annual Christmas releases today.
Last year the Government granted Christmas parole to 16 republican paramilitary prisoners. It is expected the figure will be lower this year given that the IRA ended its ceasefire last February.
There are 56 republican prisoners in Portlaoise Prison. However, a small number of IRA prisoners recently transferred from prisons in England have served more than 20 years and are close to completing their sentences. They are likely to be granted parole.
Last year a total of 390 prisoners, including 16 republicans were given Christmas parole. The Government refused parole to 10 IRA prisoners in response to the IRA murder of a post office worker during a robbery in Newry, Co Down, in November 1995.
In the North, it is expected that more, loyalist prisoners will receive Christmas parole than last year, given that the loyalists have held to their ceasefire despite the IRA return to violence. Loyalist leaders have been lobbying for more lenient treatment of prisoners on this account.
However, it is likely that many republicans and loyalists nearing the end of long sentences will receive parole. Last year 400 paramilitary prisoners received Christmas leave.