The Sentence Review Commission was established by the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 (c. 35) and was co-chaired by Brian Currin, a South African human rights lawyer, and Sir John Blelloch, a retired senior Northern Ireland Office civil servant.
The Sentence Review Commissioners in Northern Ireland were appointed to oversee and regulate the early release of certain prisoners convicted during the period of civil unrest known as the Troubles.
It was established by the Belfast Agreement which allowed for up to 500 loyalist and republican prisoners sentenced before 10 April 1998 to be released by 28 July 2000.
To be eligible for early release, the prisoner had to be affiliated to a paramilitary organisation that had established, and maintained, "a complete and unequivocal cease-fire".
The Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act provides the framework for releases and includes important safeguards for the protection of the public.