Guards at the Maze Prison, where inmates took to the roof

Maze Prison Protest Ended

The Prison Service said in a statement that the 27 protesting prisoners had been transferred from two wings of H Block 6 to other accommodation in the top security jail.

Damage to the wings where the protests were staged was said to be extensive.

Finlay Spratt, chairman of the Prison Officers Association said: "Prison officers moved in this evening and moved the prisoners from H6 to H2 with the minimum force necessary to do the job. I do believe there was quite an amount of opposition from the prisoners, the staff are to be congratulated for the professionalism they have shown."

Prison officers were withdrawn from the wing when the trouble started early on Wednesday and 19 had to leave work suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

A group of republican INLA prisoners occupying another wing in the H Block were moved from there cells to another part of the jail when the protest was under way - one was injured when a missile was thrown at him by the LVF.

Irish Resume Early Release of IRA Members

Earlier the Irish government announced it was releasing two jailed IRA members, in response to the paramilitary group's new ceasefire.

The two men, who have been held at the high security Portlaoise prison near Dublin, are the first IRA members to be freed in the resumption of Ireland's early release programme.

Portlaoise Prison near Dublin, from where two IRA men are to be freed

Gerald Burke, from Dublin, had been serving a four-year sentence for robbery, and Thomas Flynn, from Cork, had been serving six months for assault. Neither was considered to be a high-profile member of the IRA. Under normal circumstances, Burke would have been freed in July next year, and Flynn in October.

The move followed a controversial hint last weekend by Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam that early releases of IRA members might be considered by the British Government following the renewed ceasefire.

Mo Mowlam hinted the Government may also release IRA members

Speaking about the Irish government's decision, Dr Mowlam said the British Government would consider doing the same, if the IRA ceasefire held.

She said: "That is our position. There is nothing I am considering today or tomorrow because we need more time to see that the ceasefire is genuine in word and in deed.

"There are options which will be considered in the future without a doubt if the ceasefire holds. The Irish Government made that decision, it's the Irish Government's choice."

Sinn Fein executive member Martin Ferris welcomed the announcement, saying: "The release of all political prisoners, whether in Ireland, north or south, in Britain or the United States, is an integral part of this conflict resolution process.

"Sinn Fein is totally committed to securing the release of all political prisoners. We now have a new opportunity to build a proper peace process. The issue of prisoners, their treatment and ultimately their release, is a critical part of that process."

The programme was suspended when the IRA ended its earlier ceasefire in February last year. The Irish government set free about 30 IRA personnel in stages after the IRA ceasefire that began in August 1994.