Approximately 200 convicts in Northern Ireland are due to be released to help ease the pressure on the prison system during the coronavirus pandemic.

Per a report by British newspaper The Metro, around 7.5 per cent of Northern Ireland’s roughly 1,500-person-strong prison population will be released early, provided they are nearing the end of their sentences. After release, the freed convicts will remain subject to certain restrictions, including curfews and bans on contacting their victims.

According to an official statement made by Justice Minister Naomi Long, the new measures will not apply to murderers, terrorists or sex offenders, and will only apply to those convicts who have less than three months of their sentence left.

Long stated: "Such a move is contrary to the ethos of the justice system and will cause distress to victims and their families.

"However, in the context of the pandemic we are facing, and to ensure as far as possible the safety and wellbeing of staff and those in our care, it is, I believe, an appropriate and reasonable step."

Per BBC News, Long also stated that the general public was behaving recklessly by not abiding by the new social distancing rules enacted by the UK government. As a result, approximately 20 percent of the prison service workforce is off of sick leave after contracting the contagious disease.

At the time of writing, there have been 787,631 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across 114 countries worldwide, and a total of 37,840 deaths, according to John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. Of these, a total of 22,454 British people have been infected, while 1,412 have died.

We are urging all of our readers to adhere to the advice from their respective governments and medical bodies, and practice social distancing and self-isolation where required. Together, we will beat this.

Approximately 200 convicts in Northern Ireland are due to be released to help ease the pressure on the prison system during the coronavirus pandemic.

Per a report by British newspaper The Metro, around 7.5 per cent of Northern Ireland’s roughly 1,500-person-strong prison population will be released early, provided they are nearing the end of their sentences. After release, the freed convicts will remain subject to certain restrictions, including curfews and bans on contacting their victims.

According to an official statement made by Justice Minister Naomi Long, the new measures will not apply to murderers, terrorists or sex offenders, and will only apply to those convicts who have less than three months of their sentence left.

Long stated: "Such a move is contrary to the ethos of the justice system and will cause distress to victims and their families.

"However, in the context of the pandemic we are facing, and to ensure as far as possible the safety and wellbeing of staff and those in our care, it is, I believe, an appropriate and reasonable step."

Per BBC News, Long also stated that the general public was behaving recklessly by not abiding by the new social distancing rules enacted by the UK government. As a result, approximately 20 percent of the prison service workforce is off of sick leave after contracting the contagious disease.

At the time of writing, there have been 787,631 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across 114 countries worldwide, and a total of 37,840 deaths, according to John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. Of these, a total of 22,454 British people have been infected, while 1,412 have died.

We are urging all of our readers to adhere to the advice from their respective governments and medical bodies, and practice social distancing and self-isolation where required. Together, we will beat this.