The widow of a Sussex MP murdered by the IRA ten years ago has told of her outrage after the early release of 86 convicted killers from the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland.

Ian Gow, the Conservative MP for Eastbourne, was killed by an IRA car bomb outside his home in Hankham, near Pevensey, on July 30, 1990, aged 53.

His widow, Jane, has since remarried, but bitter memories of the assassination have been rekindled by the sight of terrorists being released as part of the Good Friday agreement.

Ian Gow was a popular constituency MP, a confidante of the Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and an outspoken critic of the IRA.

He was fatally injured when terrorists planted a 5lb bomb under his Austin Montego, which exploded as he reversed the car out of the drive of his home, tearing off the roof.

In a letter to the Daily Telegraph, Mrs Gow, now Dame Jane Whitely, wrote: "As the widow of Ian Gow, the MP killed by a car bomb outside our home near Eastbourne in 1990, I have been outraged at the release of 86 of Northern Ireland's worst terrorists.

"What adds insult to injury is the suggestion that the released men might now be able to claim compensation.

"The two IRA men wanted for questioning in connection with his murder have never been brought to trial. I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the injustice of it all. Criticism of the peace process has become the closest thing to blasphemy.

"Our family received not one penny of compensation when Ian was murdered. We would not have wanted it: there could be no compensation."

Dame Whitely, who was married to Mr Gow for 34 years, has since moved to Okehampton in Devon.

More than 3,000 people attended Mr Gow's funeral at St Saviour and St Peter's Church in Eastbourne.

The Northern Ireland Secretary, Peter Mandelson, admits that some will see the early releases as "distasteful", but believes it will lead to lasting peace.