The Northern Ireland Secretary, Peter Mandelson, has denied it is an amnesty for escapees. The move means convicted IRA fugitives will be able return to Northern Ireland and qualify for immediate prison release after the Government abandoned marathon extradition proceedings. Some who fled to America and others on the run for years after escaping from jails have been told they can apply to be freed for good under the terms of the deal.
Unionists are angry at the announcement and claim it is another concession to the republicans.
Co Antrim, from where virtually all the wanted republicans escaped before fleeing south of the border and across the Atlantic, Mr Mandelson said the releases would be painful for some to accept. IRA men Liam Averill from south Derry who escaped from the Maze disguised as a woman and Dermot Finucane, brother of the murdered Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane will be among those allowed to give themselves up to the authorities and then released. Finucane and Kevin Barry Artt were among 38 IRA men who broke free from the Maze in September 1983. Artt has been fighting British attempts to have him extradited following his arrest in San Francisco. Suspects who escaped from custody while waiting for their terrorist trials to start will not qualify however, and officially will remain on the wanted list.