UK Government will not release details of ‘on the run’ republicans

The British Government will not be giving out any information about the Republicans who had prison sentences waived, or shortened, despite Prime Minister David Cameron's declaration to the Democratic Unionist Party yesterday that it would try to be transparent.

In the House of Commons, DUP MP Nigel Dodds said Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly, who was the key figure in ensuring that nearly 200 Republicans were given letters telling them that they were not wanted for prosecution, had received the Royal Prerogative of Mercy .

Asking for a full list of names of those who were given them, the North Belfast MP said Republicans in Northern Ireland would be interested to know which "of their great stalwart leaders have begged or asked for, or received, probably on bended knee, such a royal pardon".

In his reply, Cameron said he would he “look very carefully” at Dodds’

request and see “what more we can do to be transparent”, though he emphasised that “difficult decisions” had had to be taken “in the pursuit of peace” in NI.

“Some of these things have to be done,” he said.

However, the Northern Ireland Office last night said Cameron would be writing to Dodds “to clarify their exchange”, adding that “it is not normal practice for Government to make public any details about the use of the Royal Prerogative in individual cases, where it has been used to shorten, rather than cancel, sentences.

"The use of the Royal Prerogative remains exceptional, and this government has not used it in relation to Northern Ireland," the NIO told The Irish Times. The last Labour government used it 18 times in Northern Ireland.

Sixteen of the pardons were issued for terrorist offences between 2000 and 2002 for Republican-linked prisoners, who fell outside the early release scheme that was offered under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

Under official rules, a person who receives a pardon is named; but the recipient is not named when the Royal prerogative is used to commute or shorten part of a sentence. There are no plans to change this policy, it is understood.