Britain accused over runaway terror suspects

The British government was tonight accused of having an inconsistent approach to terrorism as it prepared to introduce legislation allowing some of Northern Ireland’s most infamous on-the-run terror suspects to return home.

As speculation intensified that the government will introduce on-the-run legislation in Westminster tomorrow, Opposition parties contrasted the plan with British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s tough stance in the Terrorism Bill.

Democratic Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson said: “Today we are debating the introduction of legislation which, the Government claim, will strengthen their hand in the fight against global terrorism.

“However, at the very same time they are getting ready to introduce legislation which will grant an amnesty to on-the-run terrorists from Northern Ireland.

“By granting amnesties, this government has shown that they have no consideration for the grief, pain or misery which these cold-blooded-killers inflicted on their innocent victims.

“After this most recent concession to terrorism in Northern Ireland many are left asking the question if there is there a difference between terrorism in Northern Ireland and terrorism in London? In the eyes of the Government there seems to good terrorists and bad terrorists.”

Sinn Féin has lobbied Prime Minister Tony Blair for IRA members who fled Northern Ireland during the Troubles to be allowed to return without being imprisoned.

Among those who could qualify would be former Sinn Fein MP Owen Carron and Liam Averill who escaped from the Maze prison dressed as a woman in December 1997,

The government has insisted, however, the legislation will not amount to an amnesty.

In a bid to allay unionist concerns, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has insisted on-the-run terror suspects who qualify for the scheme will have face a judicial process.

The government’s plan was, however, labelled farcical today by the Conservatives’ Northern Ireland spokesman David Lidington.

The Aylesbury MP said: “At the same time as the Government proposes detaining terrorist suspects for 90 days without charge, it will allow convicted terrorists, and those wanted in connection with the most heinous terrorist atrocities, to return to Northern Ireland without ever having to appear before a court and account for themselves in the normal way.

“The government claims that its plans include a judicial process.

“In reality what is proposed is a judicial farce.

“Once again the government has simply caved in to Sinn Féin’s demands by making a unlateral concession on an issue that formed no part of the Belfast Agreement.”

During a visit to the loyalist Kilcooley housing estate in Bangor, Mr Hain acknowledged the government faced a tough challenge in trying to steer the legislation through the House of Lords.

The minister also insisted there was no question of members of the security forces suspected of offences before the Good Friday Agreement being treated differently from on-the-run paramilitaries.

“Any member of the security forces who might find themselves charged of crimes pre-1998, should not suffer any discrimination compared with those involved in paramilitary activity, loyalist or republican, who benefit from the scheme and come through out on licence,” he said.

“This is a proper judicial scheme and members of the security forces should at least be treated equally.”