The Democratic Unionists today baited SDLP leader Mark Durkan after a former senior RUC officer said he was suing the nationalist party over its claim that it influenced the appointment of the PSNI chief constable.
DUP Policing Board member Ian Paisley Jr questioned whether Mr Durkan was "man enough" to admit that it was wrong for his party to have insisted upon an appointment from outside the RUC.
Former Metropolitan Police officer and Stevens Inquiry senior investigator Sir Hugh Orde was appointed chief constable of the newly created police service in 2002.
The SDLP's claim was published in an advertisement in the Irish Newsfollowing last month's Police Ombudsman's report which found high ranking RUC officers must have been aware of collusion between Special Branch officers and loyalist death squads.
One of the two RUC applicants short-listed for the PSNI job, Alan McQuillan announced yesterday he was suing the SDLP and its leader Mark Durkan, having failed to obtain an apology.
The Irish Newsapologised earlier this week saying it regretted any distress and embarrassment the advertisement had caused.
Lawyers for Mr McQuillan, now deputy director of the North's Assets Recovery Agency, are due to issue a writ for defamation today.
His lawyer Paul Tweed said: "My client has sought an apology and retraction repeatedly from Mr Durkan. As this has not been forthcoming, he has been left with no alternative but to issue legal proceedings in order to seek vindication of his reputation and character."
An SDLP spokesman denied the party implied Mr McQuillan was involved in collusion or that there was anything improper about Sir Hugh's appointment.
"We have been happy to give that assurance before and reiterate it now but we cannot apologise for what we have not said," the spokesman said.
The party were also in hot water with the Policing Board who made the appointment.
And Sir Hugh, who fended off competition from Mr McQuillan and Chris Albiston for the post was also angered by the claim and wrote to the Policing Board.
The Board considered the claim at a meeting last night and chairman Sir Desmond Rea issued a statement afterwards denying any interference in the appointment.
Sir Desmond said: "The board remains fully satisfied that its recruitment processes were and are of the highest professional standard and that it seeks to appoint on merit."
"The board regrets the hurt caused by the statement to the Chief Constable and the other candidates who were not successful."
Mr Durkan is to meet Sir Desmond and vice chairman Barry Gilligan to discuss the controversy.
Mr Paisley Jr said his party was satisfied with the appointments procedure but said Mr Durkan's leadership had been damaged by the affair.
"Is Mark Durkan man enough to admit that he got it wrong? Surely now his leadership of the SDLP has been seriously dented given what has happened."
He also called on Prime Minister Tony Blair make a statement. "There is one person who can confirm or refute what the SDLP is claiming. That is the Prime Minister."
Additional reporting PA