Conditions for paramilitary prisoners in Northern Ireland have been relaxed in order to aid the peace process. Compassionate leave for republican and loyalist inmates to attend the funerals of close relatives has been increased from 48 hours to 72, it was announced yesterday.
Home leave allowance for long-term prisoners has been extended from seven to 10 days and prisoners will also be eligible to apply for Christmas leave after l0 years instead of 11.
The prison service chief executive, Mr Alan Shannon, said: "These are important changes which clearly demonstrate our willingness to develop the regime in a climate of stability and co-operation."
But loyalist representatives, who are demanding the early release of UVF and UDA inmates, said that the changes were not enough. Mr John White of the Ulster Democratic Party, the UDA's political wing, said the British government had given in to republican pressure but had failed to respond adequately to loyalists.
Sinn Fein also described the new measures as inadequate. A party spokesman, Mr Michael Brown, said: "If the British government wishes to address the issue of political prisoners in a manner likely to consolidate and advance the peace process, it must, as a matter of urgency, initiate movement on the release of all political prisoners."