Blair defends NI fugitives plan

Mr Blair made the comments to a Commons' committee

The prime minister has defended plans to allow paramilitary fugitives to return to Northern Ireland without serving a prison sentence.

Tony Blair said the new law, due to get its second reading in the Commons on Wednesday, was needed to move the stalled political process forward.

The proposals cover up to 150 people wanted for crimes committed before the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy said the scheme had "serious problems".

"There are serious problems with a scheme which doesn't even require an accused person to appear in court.

"What does that say about our attitude to justice and what kind of signal does that send to their victims?", Mr Kennedy asked.

"We have had serious objections since this was first suggested in April 2001. It is time the prime minister started listening."

Mr Blair said it was a difficult issue but needed to be addressed.

"I really believe it's best to get this issue out of the way so we can get on with building an executive and an assembly that are back up and running again," he said.

"If it hangs over this process much longer, it won't do any of us any good."

If the legislation is passed, paramilitary fugitives would have their cases heard by a special tribunal, but, if found guilty, would be freed on licence without having to go to jail.

Fugitives could return without going to jail

"The on-the-run thing is very, very difficult," Mr Blair told the Commons Liaison Committee on Tuesday.

"It's true the political parties in Northern Ireland are never going to agree with this legislation.

"I think they all actually know this has to be done.

"It doesn't surprise me that they are going to oppose it very vigorously and say some very harsh things about the government.

"But I also genuinely believe we need to get this out of the way and dealt with so we can get on with the really tough thing, which is building consent for the institutions."

However, Mr Blair acknowledged that it was an "uncomfortable issue" for many.

" I don't minimise the anger there will be in some quarters or the anguish if you are the relative of a policeman in Northern Ireland who was killed," he said.