Jailed soldier to move to prison in North

An Irish soldier in jail for almost 25 years after shooting dead three colleagues while on duty in the Lebanon is to be transferred to a prison in the North, it was confirmed today.

Michael McAleavey (aged 45), who is being held in Dublin’s Mountjoy Prison will be moved to Maghaberry Prison, near Lisburn, Co Antrim.

Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan approved the transfer after the British Government said they had no objections.

McAleavey, from west Belfast, received a life sentence after he shot dead three other Irish soldiers while on UN peacekeeping duties in October 1982.

His solicitor Joe Rice said he did not know when the transfer would happen.

He said: “The is the end of a long and difficult process. The decision was taken on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. It has come as a great relief to him and his family, especially his father James, 77, who for health reasons has been unable to visit his son for 13 years.”

It is not known when he will be moved, but McAleavey has been campaigning for years to be transferred to Northern Ireland.

After he moves jails he will be entitled to apply to the Life Sentence Review Commission to be released.