The last member of the infamous Shankill Butchers has been released from prison after serving 21 years for his part in the gang's abduction and murder of 19 Catholics in the 1970s.
It emerged yesterday that the longest serving member of the gang was released from the Maze prison last month, despite a recommendation by the trial judge that he should never be freed.
William Moore (48), who was sentenced to 14 life sentences in 1979, has been released on life licence, allowing the authorities to recall him to jail if he is ever considered to be a threat to society.
The former meat packer pleaded guilty to 11 murders. He is believed to have supplied many of the knives and cleavers used by the UVF gang to torture their victims.
It was also claimed that he drove the black taxi that took many of the Shankill Butchers' victims on their final journey.
Mr Justice O'Donnell told Moore that there was "no reason whatever, apart from terminal illness, why you should ever be released". He described the murders as "so cruel and revolting as to be beyond the comprehension of any normal human being".
There has been a cautious response from nationalists to news of Moore's release, which took place under a release scheme operating before the Belfast Agreement.
The SDLP Assembly Member for West Belfast, Mr Alex Attwood, admitted that the release of prisoners such as Moore would register deeply within the nationalist community.
"However, if the procedures for the release of such people have been followed closely, if that person is no longer a risk to the community and if that person has paid his debt to society, then they should be considered for release," he said.