The British prime minister was prepared to release all paramilitary prisoners in Northern Ireland within one year, it was claimed last night.
Mr Blair offered the deal to Sinn Fein during the final hours leading up to the Belfast Agreement, according to a Channel 4 News documentary. But a two-year release scheme was finally settled upon after objections from loyalist parties who feared for the position of the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble.
The programme claimed Mr Blair held a 3 a.m. meeting with Mr Gerry Adams and Mr Martin McGuinness during which the Sinn Fein leaders threatened to walk out of the talks if they were not given major concessions on prisoner releases and decommissioning.
Afterwards, Sinn Fein negotiator Mr Gerry Kelly went to loyalist parties to propose they stand together on the issue.
The PUP's Mr David Ervine said he refused and they settled on two years.