Unionist politicians were highly critical of the Government's decision to release republican prisoners. The Ulster Unionist security spokesman, Mr Ken Maginnis, said: "This move will cause considerable concern in the unionist community. Unionists remain unconvinced about the sincerity of the current IRA ceasefire. The republican leadership has done or said nothing to ease the situation. Their position still is `Smash the Brits'."
The DUP's justice spokesman, Mr Ian Paisley jnr, described the decision as displaying "poor judgment and bad faith, but then that is what we have come to expect from the Government of the Irish Republic".
Granting IRA prisoners early release was "a scandalous sop to the republican movement quite clearly designed as yet another concession to keep the hoax peace in place".
The victims of IRA violence would be distressed to know that the "people who carried out vicious, evil deeds will once again be walking the streets".
However, Ms Brid Rodgers of the SDLP welcomed the development. "Any movement on the prisoners issue will play a part in helping the peace process and will be a vital confidence-building measure," she said.
She understood the way victims of IRA violence might feel but added: "We have to be realists. We do not live in a normal society and we need to take risks if we are to build one. Both victims and prisoners have been, in their own way, victims of our abnormal society."
The decision seemed to take government sources in London by surprise last night. In such cases it would be expected that the Department of Justice would have briefed the Home Office. However, a spokesman for the Home Office said last night it had no knowledge of the announcement.
"No one's told me about this. I was not aware of this. But if they have served their time, then they should be released. We would not welcome it but if they have served their time it's not fair to keep them behind bars for ever".
A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Office was unaware of the development. And with the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, in Belfast last night, the duty press officer at Downing Street said he had no knowledge of it.
"I'm not aware of it, but why should I be?" he said.
While the announcement will be seen as a confidence-building measure aimed at boosting the peace process authoritative sources told The Irish Times it should not be seen as a comment on the British approach to such issues.