OTRs – Martin McGuinness talks about republican 'On the Runs' and unionist reaction

‘Everybody at that meeting knew that there was a scheme and that over a period of years that scheme was being proceeded with’

MARTIN McGUINNESS MLA, Sinn Féin’s joint First Minister in the Six-County Executive, speaks to the BBC at Stormont following a meeting he and fellow Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly had with the British Secretary of State Theresa Villiers.

Martin McGuinness said:

“It has been shown, particularly over the last 24 hours, that this is a matter that has been discussed on a number of occasions at the Policing Board.

“All the political parties knew it and I think that the contribution to the Policing Board meeting in 2010 from PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris is very revealing in terms of the amount of knowledge people knew.

“Drew Harris outlined the fact that there was a scheme. Yes, we all accept that there was no mention of a letter but I actually think that that is a superfluous point.

“Everybody at that meeting knew that there was a scheme and that over a period of years that scheme was being proceeded with.”

Martin McGuinness added:

“A very important part about this issue is that those names that were put forward, those people were told no charges could be proceeded with or brought against them.

“There were also a smaller number of names that people were told that charges would be proceeded with if they returned to the North.

“So that information blows out of the water this argument of amnesty or immunity or a ‘get out of jail’ card.”