The North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, has retracted claims made on BBC television's Question Time on Thursday night that 11 prisoners had had their Christmas leave cut short after becoming involved in crime and violence. Mr Trimble admitted yesterday that his information had been incorrect.
In a statement, the prison service said that only four prisoners were returned or recalled early to Maghaberry and Magilligan jails, out of a total of 421 inmates on Christmas parole. All four had committed non-paramilitary offences.
The statement said the Christmas leave programme was not connected to the prison release programme under the Belfast Agreement.