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On the Run letters: Barra McGrory says letters are 'virtually worthless' On the Run letters: Barra McGrory says letters are 'virtually worthless'
(about 1 hour later)
Northern Ireland's chief prosecutor has said letters sent to so-called On the Runs saying they were not wanted by police are "virtually worthless".Northern Ireland's chief prosecutor has said letters sent to so-called On the Runs saying they were not wanted by police are "virtually worthless".
Director of Public Prosecutions Barra McGrory QC told a parliamentary inquiry the letters were "not an impediment to prosecution" if new evidence emerges.Director of Public Prosecutions Barra McGrory QC told a parliamentary inquiry the letters were "not an impediment to prosecution" if new evidence emerges.
He added he did not believe any leading member of Sinn Féin had got a letter.He added he did not believe any leading member of Sinn Féin had got a letter.
The inquiry is examining how more than 200 people were told they were not wanted for paramilitary crimes.The inquiry is examining how more than 200 people were told they were not wanted for paramilitary crimes.
The On the Runs letters scheme came to light in February when the trial of County Donegal man John Downey for the 1982 IRA Hyde Park bombing was halted because he had mistakenly received a letter telling him he was not wanted by police. The On the Runs letters scheme came to light in February when the trial of County Donegal man John Downey for the 1982 IRA Hyde Park bombing collapsed.
The prosecution was halted because Mr Downey had mistakenly received a letter telling him he was not wanted by police.
Mr McGrory was among a number of high-profile witnesses called to give evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee inquiry into the scheme, which is holding two days of hearings at Stormont.Mr McGrory was among a number of high-profile witnesses called to give evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee inquiry into the scheme, which is holding two days of hearings at Stormont.
In his previous role as a private solicitor, Mr McGrory acted on behalf of Sinn Féin on occasions and met a senior police officer in charge of a specialist PSNI team set up to deal with the On the Runs issue. The DPP told the committee that he had "no knowledge of Mr Downey's existence" until a few days before the judgement in the halted trial was made public.
He said that that the letters were not an amnesty and those who had received them "ought not to be sleeping easy in their beds".
He added that recent advances in DNA analysis was one example of how new evidence could emerge in some cases and lead to prosecution, despite the suspect having received a letter.
Mr McGrory said Mr Downey's case was different because he had been sent letter in error.
The DPP also confirmed that to date, there has not been a successful prosecution of any suspect in receipt of an On the Runs letter.
He was asked to provide a copy of the full list of names of the recipients to the committee and replied that he had "no objection in principal" but would need time to consider the legal implications.
In his previous role as a private solicitor, Mr McGrory acted on behalf of Sinn Féin on occasions and also met a senior police officer in charge of a specialist PSNI team set up to deal with the On the Runs issue.
He confirmed to the committee that while he was representing the party, he had passed a list of names of individuals to the UK authorities to be considered for the On the Runs scheme.He confirmed to the committee that while he was representing the party, he had passed a list of names of individuals to the UK authorities to be considered for the On the Runs scheme.
However, Mr McGrory said he personally had "no hand, act or part" in designing the scheme which he said had been devised by politicians in government, in negotiations with the Sinn Féin leadership.However, Mr McGrory said he personally had "no hand, act or part" in designing the scheme which he said had been devised by politicians in government, in negotiations with the Sinn Féin leadership.
He said that while he did provide some "advice", he played a "minimal role" and had been acting as a "facilitating solicitor" on behalf of his client. He said that while he did provide some "advice" regarding the On the Runs scheme, he played a "minimal role" and had been acting as a "facilitating solicitor" on behalf of his client.
Mr McGrory added that although the On the Run letters were of limited legal value, at the time they were introduced they were "politically important obviously, to the prime minister and the leadership of Sinn Féin to move the (peace) process to the next stage".
"Obviously, since the police at the time had engaged in the process of giving the letters, there was a certain amount of confidence in certain quarters that they were no longer being pursued. I think that confidence would now have abated," the DPP added.
During the committee proceedings, he was described by the North Antrim MP Ian Paisley as a "poacher turned gamekeeper".During the committee proceedings, he was described by the North Antrim MP Ian Paisley as a "poacher turned gamekeeper".
Mr McGrory said it was not a term he recognised but "would take it as a compliment".Mr McGrory said it was not a term he recognised but "would take it as a compliment".
There are currently two inquiries into the controversy, one ordered by Prime Minister David Cameron and overseen by Lady Justice Hallett, and the other by MPs in the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. He said that during his former career as a solicitor he had not only acted for Sinn Féin but also for former police officers and soldiers and people with no connection to the Troubles.
On Monday, Gerry Kelly defended Sinn Féin's decision to not give evidence in front of NI Affairs inquiry. Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson was the next witness to be called before the inquiry and told the committee the On the Runs letters had come "like a bolt out of the blue".
Sinn Féin have submitted written evidence, but Mr Kelly said they will not appear in person. Mr Robinson said the government had "deliberately deceived" the other political parties in Northern Ireland by introducing the secret scheme.
Mr Kelly said Sinn Féin had nothing to hide and that the select committee inquiry was not of "any great value". He said the letters must have "no legal authority" and must be declared "null and void".
He said the party would engage with the Hallett Inquiry. There are currently three inquiries into the On the Runs controversy.
One is a judge-led inquiry, ordered by Prime Minister David Cameron and overseen by Lady Justice Hallett.
The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee is holding its own parliamentary inquiry into how the scheme operated and the Northern Ireland's Assembly's Justice Committee is also holding its own hearings.