A price worth paying? Blair claims OTR letters were 'critical' to peace process

The peace process would've collapsed if it wasn't for the controversial "on the run" letters scheme. That's the claim from former Prime Minister Tony Blair. The OTR scheme came to public attention last year when one of the letters caused the Hyde Park bomb trial to collapse. The man accused of it, John Downey, walked free.

In heated exchanges with the Northern Ireland affairs committee, which is investigating the scheme, Mr Blair apologised for that. But he also said it was critical to the peace process.