The father of Warrington bombing victim Tim Parry says calls for any investigation into the atrocity to be ended an ‘insult’.

John Larkin, Northern Ireland’s Attorney General, has said there should be no further investigations, inquiries or inquests into killings related to the Troubles.

If brought in it would mean any killings before the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 - including the 1993 IRA bomb on Bridge Street - would not be investigated.

Colin Parry is opposed to the proposals and said his family would not be able to accept it.

He said: “It will almost be an insult that the idea of a prosecution will be swept away for the Warrington bombing and its victims.

“It’s an amnesty in all but name.

“I think it makes past hurts come back to the surface and will give victims that sense of isolation again.

“As a victim, you can feel that people express sympathy and remorse, but they can’t really understand it.

“This idea will reinforce the fact that you really are isolated, and that the state has given up on you.

“If this was done in 20 years when my generation has gone, that might be the time to do it.

“When survivors are still around you can’t just, with a signature on a piece of paper somewhere, sweep them aside.” 

Mr Larkin has argued that few criminal convictions have been brought for 3,500 deaths over three decades in NI during a period of conflict known as the Troubles, and that as time goes on, convictions become more unlikely.

Mr Parry said: ““On one level I understand the logic of what he is saying, that there has to be a point at some time that the process has reached such a mature stage that ongoing investigations are not justified.

“I don’t think that point has been anywhere near reached as far as victims are concerned.

“We will be offended by the fact that even though no active investigation has gone on for years, the truth is you can never say never.

“Something might come to light in the future, and if that were to happen and the process had been stopped, nothing will be done with that information.”

Mr Larkin also claimed that if investigations are ended, those responsible for killings during the Troubles, whether paramilitarians, police or Army, may be encouraged to come forward.

Mr Parry added he thought the chances of that are ‘extremely slim’.