A member of the Northern Ireland Sentence Review Commission has advised the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, of his decision to stand down.
Appointed to the commission just over a month ago, Mr David Bolton, who is a director of the Sperrin Lakeland Health and Social Care Trust, said he felt that in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing his place was with the people of the district. In the aftermath of the bombing, Mr Bolton co-ordinated the health and social services response to the attack.
"I feel that the work of supporting people who have been bereaved, injured and distressed by the bombing is only beginning." Mr Bolton said he recognised that "the release of prisoners is, along with other elements, a key part of the agreement".
"My decision is based on humanitarian reasons, and I would not want my decision to stand down to be taken advantage of politically," he said.