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OTR court cases will restore public faith says top judge

THE north's top judge has said believes public confidence in the criminal justice system will be restored if cases involving on the runs (OTRs) come before the courts.

Sir Declan Morgan, pictured right, said such prosecutions should be welcomed as they would lead to transparency and truth. He said he was unable to talk about OTRs because it was an issue that could possibly go before the courts. "It may well be the subject of arguments and decision," he told the BBC. "I think the fact that the courts will do that in a transparent and open way with access of the public to everything that goes on within the principle of open justice is actually positive." He said the issue looked "fraught" but courts' scrutiny of cases would help restore public confidence.