A disc containing personal information has been lost by the public inquiry team examining the loyalist murder of Catholic solicitor Rosemary Nelson in Northern Ireland.
Investigators investigating the death of Mrs Nelson (40) said a police investigation had been launched but the material was not believed to have been stolen.
The compact disc went missing on May 6th.
Mrs Nelson died after a booby-trap bomb left by loyalists exploded under her car in March 1999.
A spokesperson for the panel said: “The inquiry deeply regrets this serious breach of secure data handling protocols within the inquiry.
“Immediate steps have been taken to avoid any recurrence and a comprehensive review of all aspects of data handling has been initiated."
“The inquiry is determined that the incident should not in any way compromise or impede its investigation into the circumstances of the death of Rosemary Nelson."
PA