To some they were "the unsung heroes of the peace process." To others they were "evil, corrupt and unrepentant terrorists." Little wonder the accelerated release scheme for prisoners became the major contentious issue during the recent referendum campaign.

There is no doubt in my mind that the unionist community as a whole was not prepared by its politicians for the inclusion of a "deal on prisoners" within the agreement.

David Trimble and his team had concentrated on constitutional issues, and any ground which could possibly cultivate any thought of prisoner release within the unionist community had not even been ploughed.

This problem became a millstone around the neck of the Yes campaign and was the genesis of a group of voters which became known as "soft Nos". The situation was, of course, exacerbated by the temporary release of the Balcombe Street gang and Michael Stone.

The sight of Stone on a platform being acclaimed as a hero was repulsive to the Protestant community. To many of us it seemed as if both the Irish and British governments were bent on making Mr Trimble's job of selling the agreement even more difficult. Would they ever learn?

As a minister who has had to bury both personal friends and members of my congregation murdered by terrorists, the "prisoner issue" came like a horrible bolt from the blue. I had been in contact with friends in the Ulster Unionist Party at Castle Buildings during the days leading up to the agreement, encouraging them to do the best for unionism and for peace.

When the final document appeared I, along with some of those friends, was stunned at what was being proposed on early releases.

For me there were several major concerns. The very thought of terrorists, who have displayed no remorse let alone repentance for their actions, walking the streets having served only a minimal part of their sentences, seemed a great injustice. It remains my firm conviction that a man or woman found guilty of murder should serve the full sentence in prison with no remission.

Secondly, there is the real danger that the brightest and best (or should I say worst) of the terrorists are being freed to go back into organisations which have given no commitment that "the war is over", and which still retain the capacity to murder and destroy.

Should we not be alarmed at this possibility?

People in Bristol protested vehemently outside a local police station because they believed that a released paedophile would be a threat to their community. Is the threat to both communities here from these sectarian killers not just as great?

In short, there is not the confidence within our community at the moment to cope with an accelerated release of prisoners. It is time for some confidence-building measures from the republican and loyalist movements, if this is to change.

A third and major area for concern is the problem of unresolved murders. David Martin, Nigel McCollum, Reggie McCollum, William Graham, Stanley Adams and Jim Johnston were all members of my congregation murdered by the IRA. Only one person has been convicted in connection with any of those.

What incentive is there for the police to continue investigating them when they know that by June 2000 anyone convicted could be set free?

There would also be a great sense of injustice if anyone found guilty of the murder of Det Garda Jerry McCabe should be treated differently from murderers of RUC officers. Such a move could only suggest that the life of a member of the Garda was seen as more precious than the life of a member of the RUC.

We have been told that an independent commission will continually review the situation. This I welcome, but my fear is that commissions such as this will inevitably do what is politically expedient rather than what is morally correct.

For many who have served in the security forces and for many who have lost loved ones in the violence, it seems a travesty of justice that more and more prisoners will be released having served less and less of their sentences.

What has it all been for? Why did I give those years of service? Why did I put my family through so much just for this? These are all questions that I have heard since April 10th.

Whilst recognising that some prisoners have taken a significant lead in moving people away from violence and that international experience indicates that prisoner release had been part of a process to make peace, I nonetheless feel a great sense of injustice, and hope and pray that our society does not live to regret the day when our prisons are half-empty because all the terrorists have gone home to be engaged in "the next phase of the struggle".

There is no doubt that there is much in the agreement to commend and that it is imperative for all Christians to seek to live at peace with everyone and to promote the conditions where trust, peace and harmony can flourish. But let us not throw caution to the wind. In taking risks let us not go mad.

The Rev William Bingham is a Presbyterian minister at Pomeroy, Co Tyrone. He is also deputy Grand-Chaplain of the Orange Order