Victims condemn Northern Ireland Troubles prosecutions call 20 November 2013 Last updated at 16:25 Continue reading the main story Northern Ireland victims groups have criticised a suggestion that there should be an end to prosecutions for Troubles killings. NI's Attorney General John Larkin said there should be an end to investigations into killings before the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Prime Minister David Cameron said such a move would be "rather dangerous." None of Northern Ireland's main political parties have supported the idea. Mr Larkin had said there should be no further police investigations, inquests or inquiries into any relevant killings that took place before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. Mr Larkin said his proposal was not a formal amnesty, but was a logical consequence of the agreement. His comments came as former US diplomat Richard Haass tries to broker a political agreement over how to deal with the legacy of Northern Ireland's past, as well as controversial parades and the flying of flags. Relatives of Troubles victims have criticised Mr Larkin's suggestion. Patrick Corrigan from Amnesty International called Mr Larkin's proposals "an utter betrayal of victims' fundamental right to access justice." Stephen Gault, whose father Samuel was killed in the 1987 IRA Poppy Day bombing in Enniskillen, said: "How dare he airbrush the innocent people who were murdered at the hands of terrorists to move things forward. I just think it's totally disgusting. Troubles in Northern Ireland The conflict in Northern Ireland during the late 20th century is known as the Troubles. More than 3,600 people were killed and thousands more injured. During a period of 30 years, many acts of violence were carried out by paramilitaries and the security forces. Kate Nash, whose brother was shot dead by the Army on Bloody Sunday in 1972, said: "I'm absolutely incensed by what the attorney general is saying - my brother didn't matter, my brother was murdered almost 42 years ago." Rather dangerous Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cameron said: "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. Northern Ireland's Justice Minister David Ford said: "I don't agree at all with the suggestion made by the attorney general that the criminal justice system should no longer have a role in dealing with the past. We need a process that includes justice, truth and reconciliation - I don't believe that we will get any one of these without the other. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), the largest political party in Northern Ireland, said the attorney general had not consulted the Stormont Executive about his proposals before making them public. The party's Jeffery Donaldson said: "There is no nation in the free world today where murder is not a crime, you cannot say that murder is not a crime - it is. Mr Larkin's comments were raised during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons There are 3,000 unsolved murders in Northern Ireland and those families are entitled to the right to pursue justice. Cause of real concern Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly said: "There's many different views of what you do with the truth or post-truth, but the one thing that we've all agreed to, is the truth needs to get out. Now if what John Larkin is doing is drawing a line in the sand and closing down the ability to bring out truth, then I would fundamentally disagree. The nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) said the attorney general's remarks were a "cause of real concern." SDLP justice spokesperson Alban Maginness said victims and survivors of state and paramilitary violence were "entitled to justice irrespective of the lapse of time." Analysis: Mark Devenport As criminal justice matters have been devolved to Northern Ireland, theoretically it would be up to the Stormont Executive to pass any law "drawing a line" under Troubles prosecutions. However, some Troubles offences took place in England, the Republic of Ireland, or elsewhere in Europe. The Northern Ireland Executive has no jurisdiction over these territories. Moreover, any bar on prosecutions could be challenged under European human rights law. The Northern Ireland attorney general argues there are precedents which might make his proposal compliant with the European Convention On Human Rights. However, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has said this latest initiative risks undermining the human rights of people in Northern Ireland. Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said he was deeply suspicious about the timing of Mr Larkin's comments. "I am shocked at the lack of consultation particularly with victims, never mind the executive," he said. I can't believe he didn't understand the hurt and pain he would cause amongst victims. Very few prosecutions Mr Larkin told the BBC: "More than 15 years have passed since the Belfast Agreement, there have been very few prosecutions, and every competent criminal lawyer will tell you the prospects of conviction diminish, perhaps exponentially, with each passing year, so we are in a position now where I think we have to take stock. Commenting on the remarks, Northern Ireland's Chief Constable Matt Baggott said: "It is well documented that the cost of policing the past has a massive impact on how we deal with the present and the future. Whilst we are committed to meeting our current legislative responsibilities, dealing with legacy issues continues to place significant pressure on our organisation and financial resources. Florence Magill: "My son was left lying in the road to die" New inquest into killings If adopted, in addition to the end to all criminal prosecutions and coroners' inquests, Mr Larkin's proposals would result in the abolition of the Historical Enquiries Team (HET), the body set up to review killings during the period known as the Troubles. Meanwhile, Mr Larkin has ordered a new inquest into the killings of two people when loyalists, including rogue members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and Ulster Defence Regiment, attacked a bar in the village of Keady, south Armagh in 1976, according to the Belfast-based solicitor Kevin Winters, who is representing the families. The attack was allegedly carried out by a group known at the Glenanne Gang. The fresh coroner's court probe followed a report by the HET, which according to Mr Winters, pointed to one of the most notorious examples of collusion involving the security forces.