A judge has ordered the disclosure of reasons why convicted killer and former Ulster Defence Association (UDA) member Michael Stone has been freed from prison. Giving his verdict on Thursday, Judge Adrian Colton said: “The applicant seeks an order that parole commissioners should provide the reasons for the decision to release the prisoner. In November last year, the Court of Appeal, Northern Ireland’s highest court, ruled that Stone could apply for early release from prison. Mr Justice Colton said he made the order on Thursday to release details on the release in accordance with the principle that justice be conducted openly. Thursday’s legal action was brought by Deborah McGuinness, sister of one of Stone’s victims, 20-year-old Thomas McErlean.

Source: The Irish Times January 28, 2021 20:02 UTC