Blair Summoned Over NI 'On-The-Runs' Scheme

Tony Blair has been summoned to appear before MPs investigating a controversial scheme launched by his government to allow Republican terror suspects to escape prosecution.

Nearly nine months after first asking him to attend, MPs on the all-party Northern Ireland Affairs Committee unanimously agreed to order the former prime minister to appear on 14 January.

The so-called "on-the-runs" scheme, proposed by Sinn Fein in peace negotiations, saw about 200 letters sent to Republicans assuring them they were not being actively pursued by the UK authorities.

The MPs’ committee launched an inquiry after John Downey walked free from the Old Bailey in February when his prosecution for the murder of four soldiers in the 1982 IRA Hyde Park bombing collapsed, after it was revealed he had been sent a letter in error.

This week it emerged the former prime minister had told the committee he was too busy to attend the committee and had nothing new to say.

And so the committee chairman, Conservative MP Laurence Robertson has written to Mr Blair, declaring: "The committee was particularly disappointed at a lack of response since its members have noted that you have been in the UK regularly over the past few weeks.

"But you have not been able to find an hour or so to meet us. The committee felt that this was extremely disrespectful to the House."

A spokesperson for Mr Blair, who is currently abroad, said: "We have been carefully considering all the options previously proposed by the Committee, given they refused to accept written evidence along with the assurance that any subsequent questions would be answered.

"This process has been difficult but no disrespect was intended, neither to the House nor to the people of Northern Ireland."