'On the run' plan welcomed by MP

Martin McGuinness has welcomed moves to deal with 'on the runs'

Plans to allow so-called "on the runs" to return home have been welcomed by Sinn Fein MP Martin McGuinness.

The government has announced its intention to introduce laws to deal with people suspected of terrorism who have not been brought to court.

Speaking on the BBC's Politics Show, Mr McGuinness said the legislation would only affect a small number of people.

"The British government has clearly flagged up its intention to do that... and that's a good thing," he said.

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said in the Commons last Wednesday that the legislation was likely to be brought before parliament early in November.

Responding to questions at the NI Affairs Committee from the DUP's Gregory Campbell, Mr Hain said: "They (police) have a number of suspects for crimes - I readily concede crimes that in some cases were horrific crimes, but it goes into dozens at any rate."

Real concerns

He said further suspects, who may still be in the province, could be "unearthed" by new police inquiries into "historic crimes".

Mr Hain said sometimes undesirable things had to be done in the interests of conflict resolution.

He said he understood the real concerns of the people of Northern Ireland on this issue.

The legislation will deal with people suspected of terrorism who have not been brought to court and those who have fled prison.

Sinn Fein has repeatedly pressed for them to be able to return to Northern Ireland.

Asked when the legislation would be brought forward by the chair of the committee Sir Patrick Cormack, Mr Hain said he was not certain of the date but it would be before Christmas and probably early next month.