The Government was warned tonight it would be placing any prospect of politically stable devolution in Northern Ireland in jeopardy if it gave an amnesty to IRA members who went on the run to avoid prosecution.
The Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party issued the warning following claims prosecutions of IRA fugitives and members of the security forces accused of collusion were to be dropped in the 'public interest'.
The Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General are to be asked to shelve cases against on-the-run republicans as part of a final deal between Sinn Fein and Downing Street, it is claimed.
To provide balance a similar no prosecution call for members of the security forces accused of collusion with loyalist paramilitaries would be made.
But Nigel Dodds, the North Belfast MP and DUP party secretary, warned of dire consequences for efforts to restore devolution.
He said his party had defeated previous attempts to introduce an amnesty for on-the-runs [OTRs] and made clear to Prime Minister Tony Blair and subsequent attempt to re-introduce such an amnesty directly or indirectly would be a deal breaker.
"An amnesty for OTRs is just as unacceptable whether it is done directly in legislation or indirectly through some kind of administrative fix," he said.
Mr Dodds added: "If Government does decide to go down such a route then it is placing any prospects of politically stable devolution in jeopardy."
PA