Militant who tried to kill N.Ireland leaders released on parole: report

A convicted paramilitary killer jailed for 16 years for trying to murder key Republican leaders by storming the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2006 was on Tuesday released on parole, the BBC reported.

Michael Stone was found guilty in 2008 of the attempted killing of then Sinn Fein leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, on the day the latter was designated deputy first minister in a power-sharing government.

Stone had previously been freed from prison under the Good Friday Agreement, which brought an end to decades of violence between unionist and republican militants.

He was then in jail for killing three people in an attack at a republican funeral in 1988.

Families of his victims attempted last year to delay his release.

Stone tried to force his way into the Stormont Assembly on November 24, 2006 with an imitation firearm, nails, pipe bombs, knives and an axe.