Republican paramilitary prisoners who have been on the run will not have to return to jail in Northern Ireland, it was confirmed today.
Up to eight escapees, including five men who took part in the mass IRA break-out from the Maze Prison near Lisburn, County Antrim in 1983, have been freed on licence.
Three of the men - including one who escaped from the Maze dressed as a woman in 1997 - were serving life sentences.
The decision by the Sentence Review Commission not to return them to jail follows an announcement last September by the former Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Peter Mandelson that extradition orders for the men should not be pursued.
After surrendering themselves to the Prison Service, the escapees applied to the Sentence Review Commission to be considered eligible for the scheme.
The decision to leave them free has been interpreted as a move to bolster the Northern Ireland peace process.
It is understood the decision was taken at some time within the last fortnight.
A Northern Ireland Office spokesman said: "As the former Secretary of State Peter Mandelson announced in September, these prisoners have been allowed to return to Northern Ireland to make an application to the Sentence Review Commission."
After no objection was raised to the Commission by the Prison Service the escapees' case passed through smoothly.
A Commission spokesman said: "It's gone through all stages, preliminary indications and substantive determination."
He was able to confirm that seven names have been included in the release on licence.
He could not confirm reports that an eighth man, Gerard Sloan, who broke out of Belfast's Crumlin Road Jail in 1981, was also on the list.
Among those who are known to have been granted their freedom is Liam Averell, who escaped from the Maze in December 1997 dressed as a woman.
Sinn Fein vice-president Mr Pat Doherty welcomed the decision not to pursue the escaped prisoners and claimed it would aid efforts to cement the peace process.
"This is a useful step in tackling an important issue. It will come as a relief to the individuals and their families," the Assembly Member for West Tyrone said.
"We are in a process of conflict resolution and this issue needs sorting out.
"There was an acknowledgement by the British Government last year that this anomaly had arisen in light of the Good Friday Agreement, however it needs to be addressed in its entirety."
PA