Just 12 paramilitary prisoners will be left in Northern Ireland's top-security Maze prison over the Christmas holidays, it was claimed yesterday. So far 309 inmates have been released early under the terms of the Belfast Agreement.
Northern Ireland UUP Assembly member Mr Norman Boyd said: "The prison gates have been thrown open by the authorities. The vast majority of people will be angry and dismayed when they learn only 12 terrorist prisoners will remain inside the Maze over the holiday period." A Northern Ireland Office spokesman said about 300 inmates from all prisons in the North would be freed for Christmas but could not give a figure on how many would be left in the Maze.