A former Irish soldier serving a life sentence for murdering three of his colleagues in Lebanon in 1982 is to be transferred to Northern Ireland.
Michael McAleavey, who is from Belfast, had applied to be transferred from Mountjoy Prison to a prison in Northern Ireland to be closer to his family.
The decision to grant the application was taken by Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan.
The soldiers' association, PDFORRA, has called on the Department of Justice to reconsider its decision. The association said it is surprised and disappointed that McAleavey is being transferred.
PDFORRA said McAleavey should serve his full sentence in this State because his crime relates to this jurisdiction and many people affected by it live here.
The families of the murdered soldiers have expressed their upset at the news, as it comes just days before the 25th anniversary of the murders.
On 27 October 1982, two 20-year-old soldiers, Corporal Gary Morrow and Private Peter Burke and 19-year-old Private Thomas Murphy were shot dead by a fellow Irish soldier.
Michael McAleavy, who was 21 at the time, was on patrol with the Army on United Nations peace keeping duties near Tibnin Bridge in Lebanon when he opened fire on his colleagues.
He fired 33 shots, 18 of which hit the soldiers.
He was later convicted of murdering the three men.
He was given a dishonourable discharge from the army and was sentenced to life in prison.
In recent years he applied to the Department of Justice to be transferred to a prison in Northern Ireland to be nearer his family.
The Department confirmed that Minister Lehinan has agreed to this request.
McAleavey will be transferred in the coming weeks.
If he applies for parole in the future any decision will be taken by the Prison Service of Northern Ireland.
