The son of an off-duty RUC man gunned down by the IRA in an ice cream parlour said he would not be able to accept recommendations for terrorists to be granted immunity as part of a truth process.

Gavin Larmour said he believes this part of the draft proposal would be a “slap in the face” for all those whose loved ones were murdered by terrorists.

He was just 13 when his father John Larmour was shot by the IRA in his brother’s ice-cream parlour, Barnams, on the Lisburn Road in 1988.

Mr Larmour was looking after the shop for a week while his brother was on holiday.

An inquest into the 42-year-old’s death was told that he had taken every precaution not to divulge his occupation. His murder is currently being investigated by the Historical Enquiries Team who are understood to be currently carrying out forensic tests on a gun that is thought to have been used in the murder.

“It is an absolute disgrace that they are proposing to grant immunity to terrorists in exchange for information that will never get to court,” said Mr Larmour’s son Gavin.

He added: “It has been a complete waste of money if this is the best they can come up with. To me, this is saying that paramilitary related murders are not as serious as other murders.

“Everyone should be entitled to some sort of justice. How can you have any sort of justice if people are allowed to commit murder, admit it and then go free? This would definitely not help to bring me closure.”

Gavin said he is concerned that this would be an opportunity for terrorists to glorify their past crimes.

“It is a slap in the face. Those responsible would be able to glorify what the did. It is just an opportunity for them to brag about it. They can brag about it under the pretence of remorse.

“Anyway, how could you possibly believe a word they say? How can you be sure what they say is not just a load of lies?

“You also have to remember that they are not going to admit a thing unless they get something out of it. Why would they? Surely they will only do it if there is something in it for them.”

Earlier this year a Police Ombudsman report into Mr Larmour’s death found that his murder had not been properly investigated by his RUC colleagues, including senior police officers.

The report criticised the police probe saying it was not thorough and that not all information available to police was passed to the detectives investigating the killing.

For several years Gavin has been campaigning for a new police investigation into the murder.

“I want justice for my father. I am my dad's voice now and we — me, my dad and my family — are entitled to a proper investigation and to know the truth and get some sort of justice.

“People were able to walk in and pull a trigger with nothing ever being done about it. I want the truth and I will not rest until I get it.”