REPUBLICAN prisoners at the Maze Prison in Co Antrim have protested about the proposal to move the loyalist prisoner, Billy Wright, into their H-block.
Wright, who was jailed for eight years for threatening to shoot a woman, is being held at Maghaberry Prison, a free association facility nearby.
There are 15 INLA prisoners in H-Block 6 who occupy one wing. The Prison Service in Northern Ireland is considering housing Wright and his supporters in one of the other three wings in that block.
Mr Willie Gallagher, who is prisons spokesman with the Irish Republican Socialist Party, which has close links with the INLA, said. "To attempt to force extreme loyalists into a republican socialist block at any stage would be a recipe for confrontation. To do so in the run up to the marching season is an act of sheer madness.
"The INLA prisoners made it clear to us that they will resist any attempt to force LVF (Loyalist Volunteer Force) prisoners into a republican block," he said.
A Prison Service spokesman said. "It is one of the options that has been available to us but no decision has been taken."