Two key protected prosecution witnesses in a series of trials relating to the Veronica Guerin murder have been released from jail.
Mr Russell Warren and Mr John Dunne, both from Dublin, have been released a short time ahead of completing sentences.
Mr Warren was serving a five-year term for money-laundering and Mr Dunne three years for drug offences.
They gave evidence in the trial of gang leader John Gilligan that ended last month in the Special Criminal Court.
He was cleared on the charge of murdering Guerin but convicted on a range of drugs and other offences. He was jailed for 28 years.
Mr Warren also gave evidence against two other men, Paul Ward and Brian Meehan, who were found to have murdered Guerin.
Both Mr Warren and Mr Dunne are to be given the option of moving out of Ireland and assuming fresh identities after being guaranteed protection by the State before the trials.
PA