Adams denies trying to secure amnesty
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has denied that his party is trying to secure an amnesty for paramilitaries on the run from justice. Speaking at the launch of Sinn Fein’s annual Easter lily campaign, Mr Adams said he is trying to close a loophole in the section of the Good Friday Agreement dealing with early release for political prisoners.
"We are not looking for an amnesty," he said. "Let’s just be very, very clear about this. The Good Friday Agreement, for organisations which were on ceasefire, allowed for an accelerated release programme for the prisoners and supporters of those organisations. There was an anomaly. We pointed it out at the time. That loophole now needs to be sorted out."
Mr Adams explained that paramilitaries on the run, had they been imprisoned, would have been relased under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. For this reason, he believes the British authorities should give a commitment that the fugitives will not be prosecuted if they return to the North. Mr Adams also claimed that the British and Irish Governments committed themselves to addressing the issue during last summer’s peace talks at Weston Park. He added that there were no objections from either unionists or the SDLP.
