Government `has no right to cherry-pick prisoners'

The only prisoner released from a jail in the Republic yesterday accused the Government of "cherry-picking" those who qualified for early release under the Belfast Agreement.

Padraig Steenson (36), from the North Strand, Dublin, was freed from Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon having served 2 1/2 months of a seven-year sentence for explosives and firearms offences He called for the release of the seven remaining republican prisoners at Castlerea.

"I have to stress that I am saddened I left behind some of my comrades. It is hypocritical that the Irish Government have failed to release them under the terms of the Good Friday agreement even though they are qualifying prisoners," he said.

"The Government have no right to cherry-pick who qualifies to suit their own political agenda."

The seven remaining republican prisoners in Castlerea include five involved in the murder of Det Garda Gerry McCabe in June 1996.

Mr Martin Ferris of Sinn Fein's ardcomhairle, who was at the prison to meet Steenson, said the remaining prisoners "are within the terms of the Good Friday agreement and should be released accordingly".