Plan 'could defuse' amnesty row

Prisoners from the Maze prison are still at large

The Alliance Party is renewing a proposal which it says could defuse the row over any amnesty for republican suspects who are on-the-run.

David Ford, the leader of the cross-community party, said a licensing-on-release scheme would provide a safeguard against reoffending.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster on Friday, Mr Ford also said under the scheme the suspects would have to admit their guilt in court.

"This plan would not give the same impression as a general amnesty would.

David Ford: "This would not be a general amnesty"

"We think it is unacceptable to say the slate is wiped clean and your crimes don't matter.

"There has to be recognition of guilt. They might have to spend one night in prison, but there would have to be a recording of their guilt."

Mr Ford added: "They would be in the same position as those released from prison on licence and could be brought back in if they reoffend."

He said his party also wants people exiled by the paramilitary organisations to be allowed to return home.

Trimble warning

A new row erupted over the issue on Wednesday when the Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble, warned the prime minister that moves towards an amnesty could be the last straw for some pro-Agreement unionists.

Tony Blair told the House of Commons the issue was under discussion, but would not say whether an amnesty would be granted.

On Thursday, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams denied his party was seeking an amnesty for republican suspects who are on-the-run.

He said his party was merely asking the government to close a legal loophole.

'Outside Agreement'

But the Ulster Unionist leader in the House of Lords, Lord Rogan, said the idea of an amnesty was "totally outside the scope of the Good Friday Agreement".

He said Mr Blair's "anxiety" over the issue was borne out of some "private arrangement made between him and Gerry Adams and was a problem of Mr Blair's making."

Conservative Party Northern Ireland spokesman Quentin Davies said the government would go ahead with an amnesty for on-the-run paramilitaries.

Mr Davies said an amnesty would be an insult to the families of the those who had been murdered.

"It is quite unjustified and frankly crassly stupid and irresponsible to make this concession to Sinn Fein/IRA," he said.