Demand issued to stop active letter cases

The UK government has been challenged to immediately stop consideration of five active cases involving on-the-run IRA terror suspects who have asked for assurances they are not wanted by police.

A Stormont minister issued the demand during a fiery emergency meeting of the devolved legislature in Belfast, called to debate the continuing controversy over a deal the last Labour UK government struck with Sinn Féin that saw more than 180 individuals issued with letters making clear they could return to the UK because the authorities were not seeking them.