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On the Runs: Theresa Villiers says scheme is over On the Runs: Theresa Villiers says scheme is over
(about 9 hours later)
The Secretary of State has said as far as the government is concerned the On the run letters scheme is over. The On the Runs letters scheme is over as far as the government is concerned, according to the NI secretary of state
In a speech on Friday, Theresa Villiers will say that since December 2012 no letters have been issued by the Northern Ireland Office.In a speech on Friday, Theresa Villiers will say that since December 2012 no letters have been issued by the Northern Ireland Office.
A political storm erupted last week over secret letters sent by the government nearly 200 republicans. A political storm erupted last week over secret letters sent by the government to nearly 200 republicans.
The letters - details of which emerged in a court ruling - assured recipients they were not sought by police.The letters - details of which emerged in a court ruling - assured recipients they were not sought by police.
However, Ms Villiers said they were not "get out of jail free cards". However, Ms Villiers will say they are not "get out of jail free cards" but statements of fact at the time regarding an individual's status in connection with the police and prosecuting authorities.
She added: "They will not protect you from arrest or from prosecution and if the police can gather sufficient evidence, you will be subject to all the due processes of law, just like anybody else. On Monday, Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson suggested that police and the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) may not have had the legal power to continue the On the Runs scheme after 2010.
"The letters do not amount to any immunity, exemption or amnesty... something that could only ever be granted by legislation passed by Parliament.
"They were statements of fact at the time regarding an individual's status in connection with the police and prosecuting authorities."
On Monday, Northern Ireland's first minister suggested that police and the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) may not have had the legal power to continue the On the Runs scheme after 2010.
That was the year when justice was devolved to Northern Ireland.That was the year when justice was devolved to Northern Ireland.
On the Runs are people suspected of paramilitary crimes connected to the Northern Ireland Troubles. On the Runs are escaped prisoners or those who feared arrest for paramilitary crimes connected to the Northern Ireland Troubles committed in the UK before the Good Friday peace agreement of 1998,
The Northern Ireland Secretary, who was speaking in Belfast on Thursday evening, said of the 200 cases considered under the scheme, 38 had been looked at since May 2010. The Northern Ireland secretary, will tell a Belfast audience on Friday that of the 200 cases considered under the scheme, 38 had been looked at since May 2010.
She said, of those, 12 had received letters saying they were no longer wanted. Of those, 12 had received letters saying they were no longer wanted.
"No letters have been issued by the NIO since December 2012... and as far as this government is concerned, the scheme is over," she said. She will say that no letters have been issued by the NIO since December 2012 and that as far as the government is concerned, the scheme is over.
"If, at any time, we had been presented with a scheme that amounted to immunity, exemption or amnesty from prosecution … implied or otherwise … we would have stopped it immediately."
The political storm over the issue erupted after the trial of Donegal man John Downey collapsed at the Old Bailey last week.The political storm over the issue erupted after the trial of Donegal man John Downey collapsed at the Old Bailey last week.
Mr Downey denied killing four soldiers in the 1982 IRA Hyde Park bombing.Mr Downey denied killing four soldiers in the 1982 IRA Hyde Park bombing.
The case collapsed because he was mistakenly told in a letter in 2007 that he was no longer a wanted man, despite the fact that police in Northern Ireland knew he was still being sought by Scotland Yard.The case collapsed because he was mistakenly told in a letter in 2007 that he was no longer a wanted man, despite the fact that police in Northern Ireland knew he was still being sought by Scotland Yard.
Although police soon realised they had made a mistake, the assurance was never withdrawn.Although police soon realised they had made a mistake, the assurance was never withdrawn.
Northern Ireland's Chief Constable Matt Baggott has rejected claims that the letters amounted to an amnesty.Northern Ireland's Chief Constable Matt Baggott has rejected claims that the letters amounted to an amnesty.
Two inquiries are to be held into the letters.Two inquiries are to be held into the letters.
The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has announced it will hold an inquiry, and an independent judge-led inquiry has been announced by Prime Minister David Cameron.The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has announced it will hold an inquiry, and an independent judge-led inquiry has been announced by Prime Minister David Cameron.