Stone's early release licence suspended
The early release licence of loyalist paramilitary Michael Stone was tonight suspended by Northern Secretary Peter Hain.
Mr Hain said: “Following Michael Stone’s actions of yesterday he has been charged with a number of very serious offences. As he is in clear breach of the conditions of his release I have suspended his early release licence with immediate effect.
“I will not hesitate to act to suspend the licence of any prisoner who was released under the early release scheme (the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998), introduced following the signing of the Good-Friday Agreement, if they present a risk to the safety of others.
“My priority is public safety and the interests of the whole community and I cannot permit freedom to any individual intent on abusing the opportunity they have been given to benefit from the early release scheme.”
Stone was released early from prison in July 2000 following successful application to the Sentence Review Commissioners for accelerated release under the provisions of the Act.
Life sentence prisoners in this category are released on licence on strict conditions that they should not support a specified organisation, become concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism connected with the affairs of the North or become a danger to the public.
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