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On The Runs: Lord Mandelson to give evidence to inquiry On The Runs: Lord Mandelson gives evidence to inquiry
(about 4 hours later)
Former Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson, is to give evidence to MPs investigating the On The Runs letters later. Former Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson, is giving evidence to MPs investigating the On The Runs letters.
Lord Mandelson will appear before the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee at Westminster. Lord Mandelson is appearing before the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee at Westminster.
It is looking at how more than 200 people were told they were not wanted for paramilitary crimes committed before the Good Friday Agreement. He told the committee that, for him, the issue of On the Runs started the day he was appointed secretary of state, in 1999.
On The Runs are those suspected, but not convicted of paramilitary offences. Lord Mandelson said that concerned one individual - Sinn Féin's Rita O'Hare.
"Mo Mowlam [his predecessor], as we exchanged roles, marked my card very strongly on this saying that in her view it was essential that a solution be found for Rita O'Hare," he said.
"It eventually became impossible to extract this individual's case from the wider issue and treatment of OTRs.
"Then, during the year 2000, a list of OTRs who Sinn Féin wanted a solution for was supplied to me by Number 10 and I think this list subsequently grew during the year."
He said it was clear to him that it would have taken fresh legislation to provide an amnesty for those On the Runs who prior to prosecution or a possible conviction for terrorist offences had left the UK.
"There was no other legal way round it. The attorney general personally made this clear to me on a number of occasions," Lord Mandelson said.
"Given that the issue of an amnesty had not entered or been agreed in the Goof Friday Agreement, it would have been impossible, in my view, to introduce such legislation so soon after the agreement's original signing.
"I advised the prime minister that in my view it was neither sensible nor viable for us to introduce amnesty legislation in 2000.
"I believe that it would have outraged public opinion, not just in Northern Ireland, it would have destabilised the peace process and I believe brought down the fragile devolved institutions."
The committee is looking at how more than 200 people were told they were not wanted for paramilitary crimes committed before the Good Friday Agreement.
On The Runs are those suspected of, but not convicted of paramilitary offences.
The scheme became the focus of controversy after the collapse of a case against John Downey in February for the 1982 Hyde Park bombing.The scheme became the focus of controversy after the collapse of a case against John Downey in February for the 1982 Hyde Park bombing.
The judge dismissed the case after it emerged Mr Downey had a letter from government officials mistakenly telling him he would not face criminal charges for the bombing. It emerged during the case that several hundred letters had been issued. The judge dismissed the case after it emerged Mr Downey had a letter from government officials mistakenly telling him he was not wanted by any UK police force. It emerged during the case that several hundred similar letters had been issued.