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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Martin Corey released from prison | Martin Corey released from prison |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| The prominent Irish republican, Martin Corey, has been released after almost four years in prison without trial. | The prominent Irish republican, Martin Corey, has been released after almost four years in prison without trial. |
| He had been held in Maghaberry jail since April 2010 without any charges being brought against him, after he was deemed to be a risk to the public. | He had been held in Maghaberry jail since April 2010 without any charges being brought against him, after he was deemed to be a risk to the public. |
| The Republican Sinn Féin member is a convicted double murderer. | The Republican Sinn Féin member is a convicted double murderer. |
| Corey was originally sentenced to life in prison in 1973 for his part in the IRA murders of two police officers, but was released on licence in 1992. | Corey was originally sentenced to life in prison in 1973 for his part in the IRA murders of two police officers, but was released on licence in 1992. |
| On 27 February, 1973, Corey and two other IRA members ambushed police officers in Aghalee, County Antrim. | |
| One officer, Constable Raymond Wylie, was killed instantly. Constable Robert McCauley died on 25 March 1973. | |
| Corey was re-arrested at his home in Lurgan, County Armagh, on 16 April 2010 for alleged involvement with dissident republicans and had been in custody since that date. | |
| 'Unspecified allegations' | 'Unspecified allegations' |
| He was told he was being sent back to jail because he was considered a risk to the public, but at the time neither Corey, or his legal team, were told why the authorities believed he posed a threat. | He was told he was being sent back to jail because he was considered a risk to the public, but at the time neither Corey, or his legal team, were told why the authorities believed he posed a threat. |
| Former Northern Ireland Secretary of State Shaun Woodward had ordered his prison recall on the basis of "closed material" and unspecified allegations of involvement with dissident republicans. | Former Northern Ireland Secretary of State Shaun Woodward had ordered his prison recall on the basis of "closed material" and unspecified allegations of involvement with dissident republicans. |
| Corey's supporters claimed he was being interned without trial and launched a campaign to secure his release. | Corey's supporters claimed he was being interned without trial and launched a campaign to secure his release. |
| Last May, his lawyers said they would challenge his detention in the European court. | Last May, his lawyers said they would challenge his detention in the European court. |
| Corey was released from custody on Wednesday evening, following a decision by the Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland. | Corey was released from custody on Wednesday evening, following a decision by the Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland. |
| He left Maghaberry prison in an unmarked van at about 20:00 GMT. | He left Maghaberry prison in an unmarked van at about 20:00 GMT. |
| It is understood the conditions of his release include a ban on speaking to the media. | It is understood the conditions of his release include a ban on speaking to the media. |
| Members of the Free Martin Corey Campaign have told the BBC they had concerns about the manner of his release. | Members of the Free Martin Corey Campaign have told the BBC they had concerns about the manner of his release. |
| A campaign spokesperson, Cait Trainor, said: "It is clear the continued imprisonment of Martin Corey was a political embarrassment to the Northern Ireland Office and he was released in a way that would ensure minimum publicity." | A campaign spokesperson, Cait Trainor, said: "It is clear the continued imprisonment of Martin Corey was a political embarrassment to the Northern Ireland Office and he was released in a way that would ensure minimum publicity." |
| 'Stark contrast' | |
| In a statement, a spokeswoman from the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) said that "the independent Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland have issued their judgment in respect of Martin Corey". | In a statement, a spokeswoman from the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) said that "the independent Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland have issued their judgment in respect of Martin Corey". |
| "The Parole Commissioners have decided to release Martin Corey on a licence that is subject to conditions which are designed to manage the risk they assess him to pose," the NIO spokeswoman added. | "The Parole Commissioners have decided to release Martin Corey on a licence that is subject to conditions which are designed to manage the risk they assess him to pose," the NIO spokeswoman added. |
| Ulster Unionist Tom Elliot said the decision to release Corey followed the warning issued to Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly for clinging to a police Land Rover and the suspended sentence given to Old Bailey bomber Marion McGlinchey. | |
| "The treatment of McGlinchey and Kelly was in stark contrast to the heavy sentences handed down to many non-republicans in recent months feeding the perception that the justice system is being very, very lenient towards republicans," he said. | |
| "The decision of the Parole Commissioners to release convicted double murderer Martin Corey, whose licence was revoked in 2010, will only add further weight to that perception. | |
| "To release Corey at a time when the security services still face a severe threat from republicans still wedded to the failed strategy of physical force seems curious." | |
| However, Corey's solicitor, Peter Murphy said: "We're delighted that he's been released, it's been a long hard crusade for us in seeking his release | |
| "He never knew the reason for his detention in any specific detail, he never was able to face his accuser." | |
| 'Human rights' | 'Human rights' |
| Corey's release has been welcomed by Sinn Féin but the party said the government has "lessons to learn from his imprisonment". | Corey's release has been welcomed by Sinn Féin but the party said the government has "lessons to learn from his imprisonment". |
| Sinn Féin MLA Jennifer McCann said: "At no time was he questioned by police or were his legal team shown evidence against him. | |
| "At no time was due process had. This was a clear abuse of Martin Corey's human rights and is an indictment on those who held him," Ms McCann said. | "At no time was due process had. This was a clear abuse of Martin Corey's human rights and is an indictment on those who held him," Ms McCann said. |
| Corey's party, Republican Sinn Féin, was formed in 1986 following a split with the Sinn Féin leadership. | Corey's party, Republican Sinn Féin, was formed in 1986 following a split with the Sinn Féin leadership. |
| The roots of the fallout were over Sinn Féin's decision to take seats in the Irish parliament, thus ending its policy of abstention in the Republic of Ireland. | The roots of the fallout were over Sinn Féin's decision to take seats in the Irish parliament, thus ending its policy of abstention in the Republic of Ireland. |