Defiant Tony Blair apologises for collapse of Downey trial, but says On the Runs scheme was necessary

Meetings of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee are rarely so popular that they have to book an overspill room, but today’s hearing with Tony Blair was a sell-out occasion, with both the Wilson Room and the Boothroyd Room in Portcullis House packed with people wanting to watch the former Prime Minister give evidence on the On the Runs scheme. He was in a pretty defiant mood during the two hour-long session, but then so were the MPs, particularly Ian Paisley Jr, whose aggressive questioning ensured Blair was never truly at ease.

Blair insisted repeatedly that the controversial ‘comfort letters’ were only issued to those who were not going to prosecuted, and some who were not even known to the authorities in Northern Ireland. He drew parallels between his approach to the Northern Ireland peace process and Benjamin Netanyahu releasing Palestinian militants as part of prisoner exchanges, and argued that the On the Runs scheme was a necessary part of securing that peace process.