The Eames-Bradley group, which is examining ways of dealing with the legacy of the Troubles, last night began its final round of public consultations before considering its report.
Set up by the then northern secretary Peter Hain last June, the group led by former Church of Ireland primate Lord Robin Eames and former Policing Board vice chairman Denis Bradley, is hosting a series of public meetings across Northern Ireland this month before starting work on its report due next summer.
The first such meeting in Belfast underlined the difficult task which the consultative group faces. In a passionate, occasionally heated discussion between the group and members of the public, many of them close relatives of those murdered during the Troubles, clear differences emerged on many fundamental questions about how the past is to be addressed. The legitimacy of the Eames-Bradley group itself, and the manner of its appointment, was also repeatedly questioned from the floor.
Particular emphasis was placed on the fact that no member of the panel present had suffered the loss of an immediate family member.
Others referred to the consultative group's claim that an eventual amnesty for those who admit to killing others during the Troubles may be considered.
Mr Bradley told the meeting nothing had been ruled in nor out.
Loyalist victims campaigner William Frazer, from south Armagh, argued strongly that the question of amnesty would be soundly rejected by any surviving relative who still wished to see justice done.
He said he had recently attended a memorial service for the victims of the Kingsmill massacre in 1976 and vowed that no relative of those killed would accept any killer walking free.
Gerard McErlaine, whose two brothers were murdered, questioned the composition of the consultative group and the decision of the British government to make the appointments.
He said only relatives of those killed knew the pain involved and were therefore qualified to draw up proposals on how the past be addressed.
Raymond McCord, whose son's murder resulted in a report by Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan which referred to collusion between the police and loyalist paramilitaries, accused the Northern Ireland Office of appointing a group which "would not rock the boat".
He said the Belfast Agreement had betrayed relatives because it allowed the prison gates to be opened. He urged the group to seek justice for relatives rather than "the easy way out".
The group comprises Jarlath Burns, former football captain of Armagh and GAA analyst; Rev Lesley Carroll, a Presbyterian minister; Willie John McBride, former captain of the British and Irish Lions rugby team; James Mackey, former lecturer in philosophy at Queen's University Belfast and visiting professor at Trinity College Dublin; Elaine Moore, alcohol and drugs counsellor at Northlands, based at Magilligan Prison; and David Porter, director of the Centre for Contemporary Christianity in Ireland. The consultative group yesterday met Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward in what could be a forerunner of a meeting involving prime minister Gordon Brown.
Sinn Féin victims spokesman Francie Molloy said the group was compromised in that it was established by the British government which was itself a party to the conflict.
Further public meetings are planned over the next three weeks in Derry, Bangor, Ballymena, Enniskillen Armagh and Omagh.