Hallett review: Assurances to IRA on-the-runs were not 'get out of jail free cards'

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/hallett-review-assurances-to-ira-ontheruns-were-not-get-out-of-jail-free-cards-9611960.html

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A judge-led review ordered after an IRA bomb suspect was wrongly given a government assurance he was not wanted by UK police has identified two other cases where similar errors were apparently made.

Lady Justice Hallett, who was asked by Prime Minister David Cameron to examine the administrative process for dealing with so-called 'on-the-runs', found systematic flaws in its operation but concluded it was not unlawful in principle.

The judge said the scheme agreed between the last Labour government and Sinn Fein was not well publicised, and effectively kept “below the radar”, but was not secret.

“The administrative scheme did not amount to an amnesty,” she said.

“Suspected terrorists were not handed a 'get out of jail free card'.”

PA