Amnesties 'have part to play in NI commission'

A debate must begin over whether amnesties should be offered in a truth and reconciliation process in Northern Ireland to those involved in murders during the Troubles, the British government was told today.

As Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy embarked on a fact finding visit to South Africa to learn from its experience of having a truth commission, Northern Ireland’s most senior policeman Hugh Orde said the question of amnesties for giving evidence had to be considered.