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| On the Runs told of arrest risk says Peter Hain | On the Runs told of arrest risk says Peter Hain |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Secret letters sent to 187 republican paramilitary suspects made it clear they could still be arrested if other evidence emerged, former NI Secretary Peter Hain has said. | Secret letters sent to 187 republican paramilitary suspects made it clear they could still be arrested if other evidence emerged, former NI Secretary Peter Hain has said. |
| Mr Hain said the On the Runs assurances "were not immunities". | Mr Hain said the On the Runs assurances "were not immunities". |
| Stormont Justice Minister David Ford said government officials told him five cases were currently being considered. | Stormont Justice Minister David Ford said government officials told him five cases were currently being considered. |
| The Northern Ireland Assembly is due to discuss the On the Runs scheme later at the request of the first minister. | The Northern Ireland Assembly is due to discuss the On the Runs scheme later at the request of the first minister. |
| A threat by Peter Robinson to resign was lifted after Prime Minister David Cameron agreed there should be a judge-led inquiry into the matter. | A threat by Peter Robinson to resign was lifted after Prime Minister David Cameron agreed there should be a judge-led inquiry into the matter. |
| However, an emergency assembly debate on the letters is to go ahead. | However, an emergency assembly debate on the letters is to go ahead. |
| The inquiry will examine why 187 republican paramilitary suspects were sent letters telling them that they were no longer wanted by the police. | The inquiry will examine why 187 republican paramilitary suspects were sent letters telling them that they were no longer wanted by the police. |
| Mr Hain said the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had carried out a painstaking investigation to see if there was evidence of the crimes committed during the Troubles. | Mr Hain said the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had carried out a painstaking investigation to see if there was evidence of the crimes committed during the Troubles. |
| "They made it clear that if other evidence came to light in the future then they could well be apprehended should they came into Britain," Mr Hain said. | "They made it clear that if other evidence came to light in the future then they could well be apprehended should they came into Britain," Mr Hain said. |
| "And by the way, people did know about it." | "And by the way, people did know about it." |
| Stormont Justice Minister David Ford said government officials told him five cases were currently being considered under the scheme, and the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) had accepted responsibility for this. | Stormont Justice Minister David Ford said government officials told him five cases were currently being considered under the scheme, and the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) had accepted responsibility for this. |
| "Now I don't like the scheme at all - it's not open, it's not transparent, it's not something that the people supported - but at least we now have established that the scheme, if it is in the process of winding up, is the responsibility of the NIO that set it up," he said. | "Now I don't like the scheme at all - it's not open, it's not transparent, it's not something that the people supported - but at least we now have established that the scheme, if it is in the process of winding up, is the responsibility of the NIO that set it up," he said. |
| "It is not a devolved matter and as long as I am the minister of justice, there will be no such scheme within the department." | "It is not a devolved matter and as long as I am the minister of justice, there will be no such scheme within the department." |
| 'Confusion' | 'Confusion' |
| The director of public prosecutions has given his backing to the inquiry. | The director of public prosecutions has given his backing to the inquiry. |
| Barra McGrory said: "Clearly, if there is a senior judicial figure heading this inquiry, it will have integrity. | Barra McGrory said: "Clearly, if there is a senior judicial figure heading this inquiry, it will have integrity. |
| "I certainly would give my personal co-operation to it, as will the PPS. | |
| "I think the inquiry should clear up some of the confusion and concern about these issues." | "I think the inquiry should clear up some of the confusion and concern about these issues." |
| Meanwhile, Mr Robinson has been accused of doing a U-turn in the row over the secret letters. | Meanwhile, Mr Robinson has been accused of doing a U-turn in the row over the secret letters. |
| Mr Robinson said on Wednesday he would resign unless there was a judicial inquiry into the official government letters given to paramilitary suspects. | Mr Robinson said on Wednesday he would resign unless there was a judicial inquiry into the official government letters given to paramilitary suspects. |
| He has now withdrawn his threat, saying he was happy with the terms of a judge-led review set up by David Cameron. | He has now withdrawn his threat, saying he was happy with the terms of a judge-led review set up by David Cameron. |
| However, Jim Allister, leader of the hardline Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), said the review was a long way from what Mr Robinson had originally demanded. | However, Jim Allister, leader of the hardline Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), said the review was a long way from what Mr Robinson had originally demanded. |
| Mr Allister accused Mr Robinson of having "buckled within 24 hours of playing the hard man". | Mr Allister accused Mr Robinson of having "buckled within 24 hours of playing the hard man". |
| 'Gullible' | 'Gullible' |
| Details of the secret letters and the government's On the Runs "administrative scheme" came to light after the trial of a man suspected of the IRA bombing of Hyde Park in 1982 collapsed in London. | Details of the secret letters and the government's On the Runs "administrative scheme" came to light after the trial of a man suspected of the IRA bombing of Hyde Park in 1982 collapsed in London. |
| John Downey, from County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland, had denied killing four soldiers in the attack. He received his letter in 2007 and after seeing the document, the judge stopped his trial. | John Downey, from County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland, had denied killing four soldiers in the attack. He received his letter in 2007 and after seeing the document, the judge stopped his trial. |
| After days of controversy over the revelations, Mr Cameron agreed to appoint a judge to lead a review into the On the Runs scheme. | After days of controversy over the revelations, Mr Cameron agreed to appoint a judge to lead a review into the On the Runs scheme. |
| But the TUV leader has dismissed the move as "an administrative review of the paperwork, dressed up for the gullible as something more". | But the TUV leader has dismissed the move as "an administrative review of the paperwork, dressed up for the gullible as something more". |
| 'Fig leaf' | 'Fig leaf' |
| He criticised Mr Robinson for accepting the review, despite threatening to resign unless there was a "full judicial inquiry". | He criticised Mr Robinson for accepting the review, despite threatening to resign unless there was a "full judicial inquiry". |
| "What we've had is an astonishing climbdown by the first minister, and he's clutching some fig leaf to himself, and the secretary of state is helping him by reiterating something that was already in the letters that these On the Runs hold - namely that if fresh evidence comes they could perhaps be interviewed again. | |
| "There's nothing new in that," Mr Allister added. | |
| 'No immunity' | 'No immunity' |
| However, Mr Robinson said he was "satisfied with the response" from the government. | However, Mr Robinson said he was "satisfied with the response" from the government. |
| "I think the prime minister and the secretary of state have been prompt, they have dealt with the issues seriously and in the manner that is satisfactory to me." | "I think the prime minister and the secretary of state have been prompt, they have dealt with the issues seriously and in the manner that is satisfactory to me." |
| Mr Robinson added he no longer intended to quit as first minister, "on the basis if you get what you want, why on earth would you want to resign?" | Mr Robinson added he no longer intended to quit as first minister, "on the basis if you get what you want, why on earth would you want to resign?" |
| Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers said the letters "do not confer an immunity and never did." | Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers said the letters "do not confer an immunity and never did." |
| "If new evidence emerges, the individuals will be pursued for arrest and prosecution exactly like anybody else," she added. | "If new evidence emerges, the individuals will be pursued for arrest and prosecution exactly like anybody else," she added. |
| 'No compulsion' | 'No compulsion' |
| Ms Villiers said the judge-led review would investigate how the government's On the Run scheme operated and "the facts of what happened". | Ms Villiers said the judge-led review would investigate how the government's On the Run scheme operated and "the facts of what happened". |
| She confirmed that witnesses would not be compelled to give evidence during the review. | She confirmed that witnesses would not be compelled to give evidence during the review. |
| "The judge will be able to conduct interviews. We're not talking about compulsion in relation to individuals but we would expect civil servants and police officers to co-operate where interviews are requested by the judge," Ms Villiers said. | "The judge will be able to conduct interviews. We're not talking about compulsion in relation to individuals but we would expect civil servants and police officers to co-operate where interviews are requested by the judge," Ms Villiers said. |
| She added that "other interviews can be conducted with other individuals where they are willing to do so". | She added that "other interviews can be conducted with other individuals where they are willing to do so". |
| The secretary of state said the review would focus "primarily on documents" and the judge would be given access to all relevant government papers. | The secretary of state said the review would focus "primarily on documents" and the judge would be given access to all relevant government papers. |