A dozen paramilitary prisoners are due to be freed from the North's Maze prison this week under the Belfast Agreement, with more being released during the coming weeks.
A total of 200 are expected to be released by Christmas, including Patrick Magee, given eight life sentences for trying to murder then British prime minister Mrs Margaret Thatcher and members of her cabinet at the 1984 Conservative Party conference. It is expected the prisoners will be let out on Wednesday.