THE Irish Government has now paved the way for a decision on IRA terrorist Paul Magee's bid for repatriation to Ireland.

Selby MP John Grogan says the Home Office has finally been notified that the Irish would be prepared to accept Magee, several months after he applied to be transferred from Full Sutton Jail to a prison in the Republic.

Details have also been given of how he would serve his sentence if the transfer goes ahead, said the MP, speaking after talks with an Irish government representative.

He said Home Secretary Jack Straw would now be able to decide whether to grant Magee's request.

But before reaching that decision, the Minister would take into account the views of Brian and Margaret Goodman, the parents of Special Constable Glenn Goodman who was murdered by Magee on the A64 near Tadcaster in 1992.

Mr Grogan said he unreservedly condemned plans by Republican campaigners to demonstrate outside Full Sutton Jail this afternoon, reportedly in support not only of repatriation but also of freedom for "political prisoners".

He said it was now a time for quiet reflection and cool judgement, and claimed that "shouting outside prison gates" would be an insult to the victims of terrorism.

However, he said that if the Home Secretary was satisfied Magee would still serve the full 30-year minimum sentence imposed by an Old Bailey judge and agreed to the transfer, he would back the Minister's judgement.

The MP said he had enormous respect and sympathy for the Goodmans, who have lobbied him against the application, but the transfer of such prisoners represented a key building block in efforts to find a peace settlement. "My own view is that the most fitting tribute to Mr and Mrs Goodman's son, and all the other brave and innocent victims of terrorism, would be a lasting peace settlement in Ireland."

* The Ulster crisis deepened today as the Government faced a chorus of calls to expel Sinn Fein from the peace process. Unionists demanded that Gerry Adams must quit the multi-party peace talks after Royal Ulster Constabulary Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan said the IRA was responsible for two murders last week. Sinn Fein's fate will be decided in Dublin on Monday.

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