MILLIONAIRE Tony Blair took time out from lucrative speaking engagements yesterday to answer questions on the Good Friday Agreement.

In an appearance before the Northern Ireland affairs committee the ex-PM was grilled on a deal over “on-the-run” cases which formed part of the historic 2000 peace talks.

He said that the decision to send out dozens of letters detailing an amnesty for past crimes was “absolutely critical” to the deal’s success.

“The purpose on everything we have done was to create peace in Northern Ireland so that there were not more victims of terrorism and more families distressed and losing loved ones as a result of that terrorism,” he said.

The letters brought the status of known fugitives into line with prisoners released under the Good Friday Agreement.

But MPs launched an inquiry into the issue following the release of Hyde Park bomber John Downey, who had been sent one of the letters “in error.”