The North's Police Ombudsman and Chief Constable were last night locked in a bitter credibility struggle over how the RUC handled its investigation of the Omagh bombing of 1998.
The head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, last night threatened legal action against the Ombudsman Ms Nuala O'Loan.
The move came after she issued a report claiming that the RUC had bungled its investigation into the bombing which claimed 29 lives.
Sir Ronnie claimed that the damning report denied him and his officers "natural justice" and that he was contemplating taking legal action to try to have it quashed. Ms O'Loan said her claims were based on facts and were carefully established. "I stand by everything," she said.
"I have concluded with great sadness that the judgement and leadership of the Chief Constable and the Assistant Chief Constable, Crime, was seriously flawed and that as a result of that the chances of detaining and convicting the Omagh bombers have been seriously reduced."
"The victims, their families, the people of Omagh and the officers of the RUC have been let down, I think, by defective leadership, poor judgment and a lack of urgency," she added.
Sir Ronnie responded, "If that was a conclusion reached as a result of a rigorous, fair investigation I would not only resign, I would publicly commit suicide." The former RUC Chief Constable and now PSNI head said he was astounded by "these wild and sweeping allegations". He accused the Police Ombudsman's team, which investigated the RUC handling of the Omagh bombing inquiry, of displaying "astounding ignorance of how terrorist organisations operate".
The strength and vehemence of their opposing comments have cast this as a power struggle between Sir Ronnie and Ms O'Loan.
Sir Ronnie complained that Ms O'Loan should have waited until he had filed his response to the allegations before issuing her report. She said that the Chief Constable had been allowed time to reply but had failed to do so, and for private reasons relating to the Omagh victims' families she was obliged to issue her report yesterday.
Sir Ronnie said that he may bring in officers from Merseyside police to implement recommendations of an internal RUC review of the handling of the Omagh inquiry. The Police Ombudsman said that key recommendations of that review were yet to be implemented.
The Chief Constable did not give definitive responses to Ms O'Loan's specific allegations but said a detailed response would be forthcoming.
The Police Ombudsman said that a senior officer independent of the PSNI should now lead the investigation into the bombing, a call that was supported by the Omagh families.
Ms O'Loan in her report claimed that the RUC Special Branch did not properly assess tip-offs about dissident republicans prior to the bombing.
She also accused the Special Branch of failing to share crucial information with the Omagh investigation team.
Recommendations
Omagh bomb investigation should be taken over by team led by senior officer independent of Police Service of Northern Ireland
Officer from outside force should investigate potentially linked terrorist incidents
Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary should review the way terrorist-linked murder inquiries are conducted
Review should take place of the role and function of the Special Branch and should be fully and professionally integrated into PSNI
Main Points
Victims and police officers "let down by defective leadership, poor judgment and a lack of urgency"
Special Branch took only "limited action" on anonymous telephone warning received 11 days before the bombing
"Significant and fundamental errors" made during the RUC investigation of the bombing
Many Special Branch intelligence documents not passed to team investigating the bombing
