article: John Larkin said there should be no further police investigations, inquests or inquiries into any Trouble-related killings that took place before the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Mr Larkin said his proposal was not a formal amnesty, but was a logical consequence of the Agreement. "I do think it's important to allow Richard Haass to do his work about parades, about flags and about dealing with the past. "Clearly the dealing with the past part is the most difficult of the three and the most difficult to unlock. "The second point I would make is that we are all democrats who believe in the rule of law, who believe in the independence of the police and prosecuting authorities, and they should if they are able to, be able to bring cases. "I think it's rather dangerous to think that you can put some sort of block on that. But of course we are all interested in ways in which people can reconcile and come to terms with the bloody past, so that they can build a viable future and a shared future for Northern Ireland." "The question of the past is difficult, because it is dealing with victims on all sides of the atrocities. "I don't think it would be helpful of me to comment on the personal submission made by the attorney general in Northern Ireland, who is in statutory office, and I have to respect his views in this context. "I think it would be difficult for families on either side of the dark time in Northern Ireland if you were to follow, for instance, that advice and put in place what the attorney general recommended." "I think what the attorney general has proposed is an amnesty. "There are 3,000 unsolved murders in Northern Ireland and those families are entitled to the right to pursue justice. "This process must be victim-centred. It must be the victims who decide how they wish to proceed, not politicians, not law officers. "In a democratic society, it is the victims who have the right to determine how they should move forward." "This issue is much bigger than simply the issue of prosecutions. "Whatever mechanisms are agreed in the future they need to be victim-centred. The views of victims must be central to any effort to deal with the legacy of the past. Their voices must be heard and respected and all victims must be treated on the basis of equality. "As it stands there is no single view from victims and survivors and it is unlikely that there will be one in the future. Some families seek truth, others seek a judicial process." "I am deeply suspicious about the timing of this. The timing is strange given that there is an active debate going on centred on dealing with the past. "I am shocked at the lack of consultation particularly with victims, never mind the executive. I can't believe he didn't understand the hurt and pain he would cause amongst victims. "There is no doubt that we have to find a way of dealing with
summary: Politicians and public figures have been reacting to a call by Northern Ireland's attorney general for an end to prosecutions for Troubles-related killings.