A survivor of the Enniskillen bomb has rejected the claims of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair that the On The Runs (OTRs) scheme was a key part of Northern Ireland's peace process.

Stephen Gault was one of the Innocent Victims United (IVU) representatives who attended the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee evidence session this week into the OTR administrative scheme.

His father was one of those killed in the IRA bomb on Remembrance Day 1987.

During the session Mr. Blair agreed that a letter to John Downey, the man suspected of the Hyde Park Bombing of 1982, should not have been sent.

However, he said he would not apologise for the scheme which he felt was an integral part of the peace process and "essential to getting Sinn Féin on board”.

But Mr. Gault says he believes the peace process would have happened regardless.

“I got the impression he felt that only for him there wouldn't have been a peace process,” said Mr. Gault, “But I think there would have been regardless. I feel this was another bribe by Sinn Fein to get these letters issued.” Reflecting on the evidence session, the Enniskillen man said he had particular empathy for the families of those killed in the Hyde Park Bomb.

“I can understand why people would have felt emotional hearing his evidence. John Downey was one of the main suspects and that letter meant he could walk free from his trial.

“It must have been very hard for them to hear some of his (Mr. Blair's) evidence.

“He was basically saying: 'Sorry for your loss but I am not sorry that I sent these letters out'.” Kenny Donaldson of IVU said victims and survivors had no “high hopes” for what Mr. Blair would say in the evidence session.

“However a key principle of democracy was underpinned by his being forced to give Evidence in person to the Inquiry,” he added.

“Mr Blair said everything in and around the words that; 'victims have been the collateral damage in this Peace Process.' "The former PM's 'ends justify the means philosophy' was clear for all to see today. There was no significant empathy shown for the suffering victims have endured and whilst an apology of sorts was offered for the 'error with the Downey letter' which saw the trial collapse, Mr Blair unashamedly defended the Scheme claiming that without it the Peace Process could have collapsed".

"Tony Blair and those who have succeeded him would do well to remember that victims/survivors are not going away, many still feel a palpable sense of injustice and suffer daily torment due to the experiences and losses they have endured".

"This issue is not alone a Northern Ireland issue, it is a UK-wide issue and goes to the very heart of how our Political and Criminal Justice systems interact. Peace is not lasting if it comes at a price which dispenses with the values that our UK Society holds so dear. The fundamental that everyone irrespective of class or creed is equal before the law." concluded Mr Donaldson.