The British government has issued a "fair and clear warning" to republicans in receipt of official letters assuring them they are not wanted by UK police that they cannot rely on them to avoid future prosecution.
Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers delivered what she described as "urgent clarification" regarding the status of the documents as she formally outlined how the government was implementing the critical findings of a judge-led review of the so-called on-the-run (OTR) scheme.
Ms Villiers had already previewed the broad outline of today's statement to the UK parliament when she appeared before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee last week.
But she said there was a need to make an oral statement to the House of Commons to ensure that those processed through the scheme were acutely aware of the UK government's stance.
"They now have fair and clear warning that such comfort as they may have derived from the statements can no longer be taken," she said.
"There is no continuing basis for any reliance on the past statements.
"This scheme is at an end.
"All those who sought or received statements through the administrative scheme should take note of this statement today.
"I have deliberately made it in the public setting of Parliament, recognising and intending that it should be widely publicised as a result.
"I will take further steps to disseminate it."
Ms Villiers said the scheme was never designed to confer immunity from prosecution, but said there was a need to officially clarify and restate that in the wake of controversial John Downey case.
The issue was thrust into public prominence in February when the prosecution of Downey for the murders of four soldiers in the IRA's Hyde Park bombing collapsed because it emerged he had been sent one of the letters in error, when in fact police were seeking him
The Old Bailey trial judge found that Downey's arrest in the UK last year, when he had been told he was free to return, represented an abuse of process - not that the letter conferred immunity from prosecution.
Downey, 62, from Co Donegal, denied involvement in the 1982 attack.
In July, the Government ordered review of the scheme found that it was systematically flawed in operation but not unlawful in principle.
Lady Justice Hallett, who conducted the probe, said a "catastrophic" error had been made in the Downey case, but she insisted the letters of assurance did not amount to amnesties or get-out-of-jail-free cards.
Under the scheme, which started running in 2000, almost 190 republicans who had left the UK jurisdiction received assurances they were not being sought by British authorities.
A number who applied for assurances were not granted them because they were considered as wanted.
Last week, Ms Villiers said the government was not prepared to stand over the factual accuracy of the documents any more, after numerous errors were flagged up in the Hallett review.
But she said there were no plans to introduce legislation to change the status of the letters, insisting the most appropriate way of making clear they were no longer of value was with a public statement.
