British govt to publish 'on-the-runs' legislation today

The British government is due to publish legislation later today to deal with so-called "on-the-runs" in the North.

The Bill will set up a process to allow fugitives to return to the North without fear of imprisonment.

The move is expected to benefit between 40 and 150 mainly republican paramilitaries wanted for offences committed before the 1998 Good Friday Agreement was signed.

These include Sinn Féin official Rita O'Hare, currently based in Washington.

Unionists and British opposition politicians have vowed to vehemently oppose the measures.