Thursday, February 27, 2014

Policing Board 'briefed in 2010'

On The Runs: Policing Board 'briefed in 2010'

Policing Board Policing Board members were briefed about On The Runs in April 2010

Policing Board members were briefed on the matter of "On The Runs" as recently as April 2010, it has emerged.

A senior police officer answered a question from a DUP board member on the matter, minutes of the meeting show.

First Minister Peter Robinson has threatened to resign after he said he was "kept in the dark" over secret letters sent to republican suspects.

Former SDLP Policing Board member Alex Attwood said there was "a muddle" over what the board knew.

Speaking on Wednesday night's Nolan show on BBC One NI, Mr Attwood said: "I've spent a long time today checking with former board staff, board members, with senior police, and there is, to put it frankly, a muddle we have to work out about what the board was, or was not, told.

"The board confirmed that they never knew, and there was no advice ever given, that there was any deal done in dark corridors between Sinn Féin and the British government."

Mr Attwood said he was not aware of any letters.

The letters gave assurances to more than 180 republican paramilitary suspects that they are not being sought by police.

At the April 2010 Policing Board meeting, Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris answered a question from the DUP's Tom Buchanan about the matter.

No mention was made of any letters being sent.

Two other DUP MLAs were also at the meeting.

The former vice-chair of the Policing Board, Denis Bradley, said that board members, including representatives from every party except Sinn Féin, had been briefed about the issue.


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