The President of Sinn Féin, Mr Gerry Adams, has said that the release of the killers of Det Garda Jerry McCabe was "part of an agreed sequence of statements and actions" agreed with the governments last October.
Speaking in Dublin today, MrAdams said a sequence of statements and actions agreed would have seen a process to resolve a number of issues that included the release of the Castlerea prisoners.
Four men were sentenced to jail terms in 1999 ranging from 11 to 14 years for the manslaughter of Det Garda McCabe, who was shot dead during an abortive post office van robbery in Adare, Co Limerick, in 1996.
Mr Adams said the UUP leader halted the agreed sequence that would, he claimed, have included a restitution of the institutions.
Mr Adams said "I am very mindful that the release of the Castlerea prisoners is a sensitive issue and I am especially mindful of the plight of the McCabe family and Mrs McCabe but you asked me if the release of prisoners was part of this agreed sequence. The answer is yes."