Doug Beattie MC MLA, Ulster Unionist Justice spokesperson, said:

“A letter dated 4 May 2001, from the then Secretary of State John Reid to the then Prime Minister Tony Blair, provides a revealing insight into Government thinking at that time and shows the lengths to which the then Labour Government was prepared to go to placate Sinn Fein.

“Fifteen years on it is surprising how relevant some of the issues raised still are.

“With regard to On The Runs, John Reid says ‘I am attracted to a selective and reversible scheme which does not involve the creation of some kind of ‘Immunities Commission’ and he recognises ‘There is unlikely to be a clever way of drafting this scheme so that it conveniently draws a line around soldiers and police officers.’

“To be fair to John Reid, he does say ‘I have enormous difficulty with this personally – on grounds of fairness and equity, and considering our responsibility towards those who risked their lives to combat acts of terrorism which are now to be set aside.’

“That of course was not enough to stop the Blair Government introducing the OTR letters.

“Fifteen and a half years on we are faced with the disgraceful reality of former terrorists being virtually immune from prosecution whilst former soldiers are being arrested, questioned and in some cases charged in relation to events dating back well over 40 years. This is an entirely unfair and unjustifiable situation which is a stain on the name of British justice. And yet it was predicted by John Reid himself in May 2001, when he said;

“There is the makings of a very difficult and dangerous press campaign here – “our lads still to stand trial, while murdering bastards let off.”