Lindsay Robb - who had been sentenced to 10 years for gun running - was released from the wing of the jail near Belfast which housing members of the Loyalist Volunteer Force.

Paramilitary graffiti at the Maze Prison

He had been jailed in December 1995 - originally in Scotland - for conspiring to supply weapons to loyalist paramilitaries.

At the time he was a prominent member of the Progressive Unionist Party, which was involved in direct negotiations with the government.

He was convicted along with four other men following an extensive undercover operation.

Prison transfer

Lindsay Robb was granted a transfer to Northern Ireland, and joined prisoners from the LVF, one of the most extreme loyalist groups in Northern Ireland.

Despite considerable public doubts, the LVF ceasefire was recognised by Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam last year.

This allowed prisoners from the loyalist group to be considered for early release.

Late last year, the LVF became the first paramilitary organisation to surrender some of its weapons for destruction as part of the Good Friday Agreement.

Despite this gesture, the LVF's motives are widely regarded as suspect within the nationalist community, and there have been allegations that some of its members are still involved in paramilitary violence.