2,000 letters 'opposing amnesty'

Denis Bradley and Lord Eames co-chair the group

More than 2,000 letters objecting to calls for an amnesty for former paramilitaries have been received by the Consultative Group on the Past.

The group is looking at how best to deal with the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles.

It has been conducting private and public meetings on the issue over the past five months.

A spokesman said it had received 2,061 letters saying those guilty of terrorist violence should face the law.

Petitioners were also opposed to reclassifying the conflict as a war.

The group, which is co-chaired by Lord Eames and Denis Bradley, said the letters were similarly-worded and it believes they were part of a co-ordinated campaign.

A spokesman for the group said: "Over the last five months we have communicated with hundreds of people in public and private meetings.

"We have received almost 250 written submissions and over 2,000 co-ordinated letters."

The suggestion that the Troubles could be relabelled a war has caused outrage among unionist politicians and many victims.

On Monday, a DUP motion was passed in the assembly opposing any such move.