A republican facing a police murder charge will not be extradited from the State provided the INLA's five-year ceasefire holds, it was claimed yesteray.
Mr Eddie McNicholl (51), who escaped from the Maze Prison before standing trial, was deported from the US following a failed legal battle to stay there.
He was flown to Dublin to avoid being rearrested by police in Northern Ireland. Even though detectives in Belfast, who monitored his return, said they may ask for him to be handed over, republican sources claimed assurances were given to the INLA.
"A blind eye is going to be turned to Eddie, but it all depends on the state of the INLA ceasefire," said one source.
"If it breaks, then it's a whole different playing field." Unionists now plan to challenge the Chief Constable, Mr Hugh Orde, about the issue when he reports to the Policing Board in Belfast next week on his return from holiday.
Mr McNicholl fled to the US after a dramatic jail escape nearly 30 years ago.
He had been arrested and charged with murdering RUC Constable Robert McPherson (25) during an ambush in Dungiven, Co Derry, in July 1975.
The officer was shot as he investigated a hoax car bomb alert used to lure him to his death.
But in May 1976 Mr McNicholl tunnelled out of the Maze Prison where he was on remand with seven other men. He fled to the US and began a new life there. For the last six years he fought a deportation order, insisting he was held for a crime he did not commit.
After US officials also accused him of having been an INLA member he was finally deported to the State last month.
Mr McNicholl admitted he arrived in the US unlawfully, but denied any role in the paramilitary group or the 1975 shooting. Despite the deportation, authorities in Belfast do not have any powers to demand his rearrest.
It is understood Mr McNicholl has now set up home in Dublin. He plans to bring his US-born wife and children to live with him. And with the INLA claiming to have halted all shootings since 1998, despite being linked to drug-related assassinations in Dublin and the murder of a loyalist in the Strabane area, sources close to it were confident he will be given a wide berth.
"If Eddie was convicted he would only do two years because this happened before the Good Friday Agreement, but we don't expect it to go that far.
"We've been told serving extradition papers would be a waste of time." Mr William Hay, a DUP member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, said detectives desperately wanted to question Mr McNicholl.
"There is a lot of anger within senior police ranks because it seems like people are dragging their heels," said Mr Hay.
"Because of the ceasefire and the peace process this man will not be coming across the Border to answer questions about this murder.
"It's totally and utterly wrong and I will be questioning the Chief Constable on this issue." - (PA)