ONE of the killers of Ballymena teenager Michael McIlveen is among a number of life sentence prisoners to get Christmas parole from Maghaberry jail.
Aaron Wallace (27) is among 31 convicted killers released on temporary leave over the holiday period.
In 2013, following a second trial, Wallace was sentenced to serve eight-years in prison for his part in the sectarian attack on the 15-year-old Catholic schoolboy known to his friends as Micky Bo.
At the end of the 2009 trial Wallace was ordered to serve 11 years of a life sentence, however, this was later quashed by the Court of Appeal and a retrial ordered. On the third day of the second trial Wallace pleaded guilty to playing a secondary role in the killing.
His jail term was reduced on the basis he was considered a "secondary" party to the killing as he was not armed with a bat but accepted he had participated in the assault when Micky Bo was kicked to death. The McIlveen family condemned the sentence at the time saying it was too lenient.
In total 108 convicted criminals granted temporary release for varying periods over the festive period. The Department of Justice (DoJ) said conditions have been placed on all prisoners who have also had to undergo stringent risk assessments.
Some 44 prisoners are being released from Maghaberry jail, Northern Ireland's only maximum security facility, in Co Antrim - 31 of whom are serving life sentences.
A further 51 have been granted home leave from Magilligan jail in Co Derry while eight young offenders and five female prisoners are being released from Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre and the adjoining women's prison.
Last year 130 people were granted home leave for Christmas and all returned to prison, the DoJ said.
Home leave at Christmas is granted under two schemes - one for determinate sentence prisoners jailed on or before October 31 and one for those approaching the end of their life sentence or who have been in custody for at least 10 years and have been undergoing successful periods of reintegration in the community.
People being held on remand are not eligible for home leave.
All prisoners are due back in their cells by January 4.
