Yes, and not only most Provo inmates of the Maze, but some seriously villanous loyalists too. In all, 86 of them were turned loose on Friday.

I always accepted this as part of the deal. But Friday was certainly the Toughest Day for all those who voted Yes for the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

And sadly, this was no Mandela-like walk to freedom. It was a horn-honking cavalcade in which "women supporters of the IRA killers showered the former prisoners with confetti, threw party streamers and popped champagne corks" (The (London) Times).

In case the message might have been missed, a relative told reporters: "The war is not over. Put that in your notebooks. They are coming out to fight for freedom again." Oh dear.