17/07/2014 BBC Newsline

review into the letters issued to Republican On The Runs has found the

The Prime Minister commissioned a review led by Lady Justice Hallett

after the First Minister Peter Robinson threatened to resign.

The report found the letters were not an "amnesty" but there were

"significant systemic failures" in how the scheme operated.

The collapse of John Downey's trial Vincent Kearney reports.

The collapse of John Downey's trial sparked Unionist rage. There were

claims of a secret deal to give IRA members and the steeds. The first

minister threatened to withdraw from the Assembly unless there was an

enquiry. I am not prepared to be the ahead of the government that was

kept in the dark in this way. I wonder to be full disclosure, for

the people to know what has gone on. Lady Justice Hallett was --

appointed to conduct a review into Republicans being told they would

not wanted by the police. In her reports today, she said the scheme

was unprecedented and flawed but was not unlawful and did not give

terrorist suspect an amnesty. That point was reinforced by the

Secretary of State at the House of Commons.

Lady Justice Hallett is very clear. She concludes that the scheme did

not amount to an amnesty for terrorist suspects. They were not

handed a get out of jail free cards. I repeat again today to the people

holding these letters, they will not protect you from arrest or

prosecution. Should the police succeeding gathering sufficient

evidence, you will be subject to due process of the law.

The judge also rejected allegations that the scheme was a secret deal.

The report says the scheme was kept below the radar due to its little

sensitivity, but it would be wrong to characterise it as secrets. The

report says dozens of police officers, prison officers and

politicians must have known that some kind of scheme was operating.

It out that an interested party had kept a close eye on developments in

Westminster and the press. They may have appreciated their was some kind

of scheme is not the precise details. John Downey's trial

collapsed because he was wrongly told he was not wanted by the

police. The report says the PSNI was to blame for that the stake and for

not rectifying it when it later became aware that he was wanted in

connection with the Hyde Park bombing. The judge says nothing in

law or logic explains that these feelings -- failings. The report

says that two other letters were sent by mistake. In a statement,

Chief Constable repeated an apology from the PSNI. Ella Max Lady Justice

Hallett does not offer a view on weather the letters sent should now

be rescinded. She said that decision should be

taken by the Secretary of State. The brother of one of the victims of

the Hyde Park bombing has said the On The Run scheme should have been

dealt with in a much more open way. 23 year old Anthony Daly was one

of four soldiers murdered I think when you have bad lack of

transparency, it leads to conspiracy as opposed to -- on a monumental

scale. This was purely an scheme telling people who would not wanted

that they were not wanted, if it had been done properly. If there was no

reason to hide, I don't understand why it was not dealt with more

transparently. Mark Devenport reports

on political reaction here. Peter Robinson threaten to design if

a judge was not appointed to get to the bottom of the on-the-runs

scandal. Now the report is complete, if you satisfied?

There is a heavy criticism of the Northern Ireland office for the

systemic failures and I conclude very readily from my point of view

that this scheme was wrong in principle and shambolic in practice.

Both Unionist leaders claimed that the report claims their view --

backs up their view that the on-the-runs scheme was a clandestine

manoeuvre by the government. Lady Hallett said the scheme was

very involved. It was done through the process of the British Attorney

General and the bps. Far from it being secrets, she also notes that

Sinn Fein on a continuous basis have pushed for a public manifestation of

dealing with the issue of on-the-runs. It was raised on a

continual basis. Old men Unionist parties insisted

that they would not negotiate about the legacy of the Troubles until

after the report was published. Since then, they have both walked

out of interparty talks over the parading issue. Even though we have

this issue -- this report, it is not clear which way the political

process will go in the coming weeks. Whatever happens, there is still a

responsibility of the five Executive parties to deal with the three

outstanding issues. We cannot move forward as a society unless we

resolve issues dealing with flags and parades and, most particularly,

dealing with the issues of the past. Until we do that, we will not be in

a position to take this society forward

Alliance and the Nationalists want interparty talks to resume as soon

as Sybil, but Peter Robinson says if negotiations ever recommends, they

must not be an attempt to browbeat Unionists into accepting the Haass

proposals they have already rejected.

Today was the last day you could tax your car or get a driving licence

by going to a local office of the Driver and Vehicle Agency.The

The change has cost about three hundred people here their jobs,

Unions say that their arguments for keeping the offices here were

I have reticulated all the arguments, highlighted all the

issues. We have made our case to retain the service here, to keep

those jobs. Yet they really dismiss the case, they dismissed the

argument. In doing that they really dismissed Northern Ireland, the

people of Northern Ireland. Golf now and Rory McIlroy leads

the Open golf championship by one He recorded a a first round of

six under par at Royal Liverpool. Delighted with his day's works, Rory

McIlroy headed to the clubhouse after a memorable opening round. He

had reduced a near flawless exhibition of golf -- produced.

Showing some of the form which has already helped him captured two

major championships. The Hollywood man has his ice firmly fixed on

another. He broke in six effortless Birdy pats. Even when he found

trouble, his magical touch did not let him down.

trouble, his magical touch did not Any time you can show it

trouble, his magical touch did not bogey free round in the first day,

you are going to take it. I'm really happy with that. It sets me up for a

great week. The challenge for tomorrow is to try

to end a string of disappointing performances.

And in football there were three games tonight in the Europa League

Linfield had a one-nil victory over AIK of Stockholm at Mourneview Park

Derry City lost one nil to Belarussian side Shakhtyor Salihorsk

Crusaders went down 4-nil in Stockholm to Bromma Poykarna.

Now here to tell us if the good weather is likely to

Good evening. The weather is going to turn unsettled over the next

couple of days, with showers and the risk of thunder. No such problems

tonight, a dry nights. Quite warm with temperatures slow to fall and

may not drop lower than 15 degrees. A fairly madly nights. That will

mean a human to feel to the air tomorrow. Humid air often means the

risk of thundery showers. In the morning, many places dry with

sunshine, especially towards the north coast. The showers low in from

the east. To the south, and fair chance of some thundery downpours.

In the Irish midlands, there will be some sunshine in between with

temperatures reaching the mid-20s. Plenty of orange on the map due to

the high temperatures across many areas of England. The low 30s, he

really sticky day apart -- across parts of south-east England. Only

the mid-teens out towards north-east Scotland. Quite a contrast from

north to south. Northern Ireland is falling in the middle. Temperatures

in the low 20s across parts of the West. Not just as warm as today but

quite humid and sticky at times. Showers around which could be heavy

and thundery in places, with the risk of lightning. To look towards

the East Coast with an easterly breeze. Saturday, not so many

showers around. Some dry and bright weather. There is the risk of some

thundery showers towards the east coast. Some sharp showers around on

Sunday but also some warm sunshine. You can keep up to date with

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