A woman whose parents were killed in the Shankill bomb handcuffed herself to an exit gate in the Maze prison yesterday in protest at the release of 170 republican and loyalist prisoners on Christmas parole.
Fewer than 100 prisoners will remain in the Maze over Christmas. Among those freed on 10-day parole was the Shankill bomber, Sean Kelly.
He received nine life sentences for the 1993 explosion in which 10 people, including the other bomber, Thomas Begley, died.
Anti-Agreement unionist politicians expressed anger that the British government was allowing the prisoners out while the IRA still refused to decommission. Sinn Fein accused the unionists of "deliberately exploiting understandable emotions for narrow political ends".
Ms Williamson (31) was hoping for a confrontation with Kelly yesterday but the prison authorities allowed him to leave by a back gate normally used by staff. Ms Williamson, who had brought a letter for Kelly, said: "He is an even bigger murdering coward than I thought he was.
"He didn't have the guts to face me. I hope he rots in hell. I wanted to meet him face to face because he has never shown any remorse for what he did. I had to make a stand for all the victims and relatives who have suffered so much pain and agony over the last 30 years.
"It's a disgrace what is happening. Where is the justice for the victims and their families?"
Under the terms of the Belfast Agreement, Kelly will be released in July 2000, after having served seven years.
The DUP justice spokesman, Mr Ian Paisley jnr and the dissident Ulster Unionist MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson were at the jail to support Ms Williamson. Mr Paisley said it was a disgrace that the prison authorities had allowed Kelly to slip out via a back exit. But he said the protest had been a success.
"Michelle challenged a multiple murderer and he skulked off. These people don't even have the courage to face the relatives of their victims.
"Their release is a sick and sorry mess and a sad reflection on the state of our society."
Mr Donaldson said: "I've given up on this government in terms of their position on prisoner releases. They will throw the gates open regardless of what is happening politically."
Among the other prisoners released was the leading loyalist, Michael Stone, who killed three people in a gun and grenade attack on an IRA funeral in Belfast 10 years ago. He left without making any comment. His close associate, the former UDA commander for west Belfast, Johnny Adair, was also freed. With a baseball cap pulled down over his face, he also declined to speak to reporters. It is part of the conditions of their release that the prisoners must not make any public comment, appear at any demonstration, or involve themselves in any sort of behaviour which could cause distress to their victims or their victims' relatives.
The Brighton bomber, Patrick Magee, and the IRA's "officer commanding" in the Maze, Padraig Wilson, were also freed. The chairman of the Police Federation, Mr Les Rodgers, has written to the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, asking that the two men jailed for life this week for their role in the murder of RUC officer Mr Greg Taylor should not qualify for early release under the terms of the Belfast Agreement.
Const Taylor was beaten to death in a street in Ballymoney, Co Antrim, last year. Meanwhile, Republican Sinn Fein has criticised the refusal of Christmas parole to Josephine Hayden, a republican prisoner in Limerick Jail, and Continuity IRA inmates in Portlaoise.
Ms Mowlam said the releases were tough on the families of victims, particularly at this time of the year, but she asked how many other people might be dead now had it not been for the Good Friday peace agreement. She said: "I cannot fully comprehend their pain because I haven't lost somebody like they have.
"The suffering they feel all year is so much exacerbated at Christmas and it's very, very hard. This is the best chance we have to get a non-violent future and it's crucial we do all we can to make it work."