Blair: without IRA letters, peace process would have collapsed

Giving evidence to MPs, former prime minister defends his role in allowing the on-the-run scheme in 1999

Tony Blair insisted on Tuesday that the Northern Ireland peace process could have collapsed if he had not allowed letters to be sent to suspected IRA fugitives telling them that they were no longer wanted by the police.

During intense cross-questioning by MPs at Westminster, the former prime minister said the “on-the-runs” issue was an “essential component” of keeping the republican party, Sinn Féin, in the negotiations, although he accepted there had been mistakes in administering it. “Without dealing with this issue, we would not have had a Northern Ireland peace process,” he said.

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Source Network Front | The Guardian http://ift.tt/1AXT3Uy

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