Members of the Prisoners Commission who will advise the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on the release of paramilitary prisoners under the Belfast Agreement were announced yesterday.
Mr O'Donoghue announced the appointment of three people as provided for in the Criminal Justice (Release of Prisoners) Act 1998. A Department spokesman said the commission would begin work immediately. There was no timeframe and it would be there for as long as it was needed.
Mr Eamonn Leahy SC, who will chair the commission, was most recently part of the legal team acting for the Haughey family in their High Court challenge to the functions of the Moriarty Tribunal.
Mr Michael Mellett, assistant secretary, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, is the senior official in charge of prison policy and has been the principal officer involved in setting up the Prisons Board.
Mr Martin Tansey, the third member of the commission, is the principal officer of the Probation and Welfare Service.