The UK government scheme to issue written assurances to 'on the runs' in Northern Ireland must not perpetuate impunity, Amnesty International said today following the announcement of a judge-led inquiry by Prime Minister David Cameron.

Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland Programme Director of Amnesty International, said:

'The inquiry announced by the Prime Minister must now ensure that there are no other cases with similar errors which have the effect of denying justice to victims of human rights violations and abuses.

'It is crucial that the political row over OTRs does not set back the progress made during and since the Haass Talks on dealing with the past. Indeed it shows precisely why a new comprehensive approach to the past – rather than the fragmented, piecemeal approach adopted to date – is needed in order for victims of human rights violations and abuses to secure truth and justice.'

Amnesty published a report in September 2013, “Northern Ireland: Time to deal with the past”, which found that the patchwork system of investigation that has been established in Northern Ireland has proven inadequate for the task of establishing the full truth about human rights violations and abuses committed by all sides during the three decades of political violence.

Amnesty International continues to call for a comprehensive mechanism to be set up to review the conflict as a whole, establish the truth about outstanding human rights violations and abuses and determine responsibility.   

Read our full statement: Administrative scheme for “on the runs” must not perpetuate impunity