Whistleblower David McBride has been released from a Canberra prison after his bid for parole was successful.

His parole was considered and granted on Thursday morning, a spokesperson for attorney-general Michelle Rowland confirmed.

“The government does not provide specific commentary or details about individual parole matters,” the spokesperson said.

McBride served his full non-parole period of 27 months.

The former army lawyer was sentenced to a maximum of five years and eight months in jail in May 2024 after he helped steal secret defence documents about the Afghanistan war. He then leaked them to the press.

He pleaded guilty to three charges after the court upheld a Commonwealth intervention to withhold evidence the government argued had the potential to jeopardise Australia’s security.

He will serve a further three years of his sentence under supervision.

In a statement sent by the Information Rights Project, McBride thanked his family, “whose fighting spirit, love and humour inspired me every day”, his supporters and his fellow prisoners at ACT Corrective Services.

“They, too, showed me humour, respect and character that I will never forget.”

McBride has revealed he is being treated for early-stage lung cancer, according to the ABC.

AAP, staff reporters