A Northern government official’s refusal to appear before a probe into the On The Runs (OTRs) scheme for fugitive IRA members will fuel fears of a cover up, an MP said.

There is an onus on the Government to drop contentious plans for an amnesty for on-the-run paramilitary killers after a similar move was dramatically scrapped in the UK, it was claimed today.

Sinn Féin’s U-turn on the proposed British amnesty for paramilitary fugitives has let the Government off the hook, it was claimed today.

NORTHERN Ireland's police chief, Sir Hugh Orde, will meet Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and senior ministers in Dublin tomorrow to discuss allegations about republican and British spy rings.

Northern Secretary Peter Hain is facing tough questions today about the British government's plan to allow paramilitary fugitives to return to the North without fear of imprisonment.