IRA prisoners freed

IRA prisoners freed

THE IRISH government last night released three more IRA prisoners ahead of completing their jail sentences in a further move to boost the Northern Ireland peace process.

The move followed the controversial early freeing of nine other jailed IRA personnel last month - within days of the Belfast agreement on the future of Northern Ireland being struck by Ulster's political leaders and the British and Irish governments on Good Friday.

The men freed last night from the high-security Portlaoise Prison, 50 miles from Dublin, in Co Laois, were not named. But Irish government sources reported that the trio had already been permitted temporary release for a period, and said last night's development was officially regarded as "regularising" their