Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998

4 Fixed term prisoners

(1) If a fixed term prisoner is granted a declaration in relation to a sentence he has a right to be released on licence (so far as that sentence is concerned) on the day on which he has served—

(a) one third of his sentence, plus

(b) one day for every day of remission which he has lost, and not had restored, in accordance with prison rules.

(2) If the day arrived at under subsection (1) falls on or before the day of the declaration, the prisoner’s right to be released under that subsection is a right to be released by the end of the day after the day of the declaration.

(3) If a prisoner would have a right to be released on or by the end of a listed day he has a right to be released on or by the end of the next non-listed day; and the listed days are—

(a) Saturday,

(b) Sunday,

(c) Christmas Day,

(d) Good Friday, and

(e) a public holiday in Northern Ireland.

(4) If a prisoner is released on licence under this section his sentence shall expire (and the licence shall lapse) at the time when he could have been discharged on the ground of good conduct under prison rules.