The North's Forensic Science Agency is under fire tonight following the acquittal of seven police officers over the death of a joyrider in west Belfast in 2001.
Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan is to demand answers from FSA chiefs about alleged errors in a report that was central to the court action.
The officers were charged in connection with the death of Raymond Boyle, 21, in west Belfast in May 2001. Mr Boyle was the passenger in a stolen Rover Metro which collided with a police Land Rover.
But at Belfast Crown Court today Deryck Rothwell, 33 and Steven Thompson, 46, were cleared of causing his death by dangerous driving.
They were also acquitted of acts intended to pervert the course of justice along with five colleagues: Robert Hall, 37, John Hadley, 40, Richard Seve, 52, James Long, 37, Alan Calvin, 58 - all from Grosvenor Road police station.
All seven had been suspended for 20 months, but they walked free when the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted there was no reasonable prospect of a conviction.
An FSA scientist was called in to examine the sequence of events surrounding the accident after a witness contradicted the officers' account. The scientist's findings, which disputed what the officers' said, was submitted to the DPP. Prosecutions against the seven followed later.
But further expert advice cast doubt on the original findings, and today the court heard the available evidence was unlikely to secure a conviction.
With the officers expected to apply for their legal costs, Mrs O'Loan's executive director, David Wood, stressed the decision to prosecute was not taken by the Police Ombudsman.
He said outside court: "Some months ago the Police Ombudsman suggested that, in view of concerns expressed through the media and elements of the judiciary about some of the work of the Forensic Science Agency Northern Ireland, the forensic report in this particular case be reviewed.
"In view of there being no specific information casting doubt on the report, the DPP refused to let the Police Ombudsman secure a further forensic report at that stage.
"Our non-specific concerns have now turned to reality in this case." Mr Wood added: "The case largely revolved around forensic evidence and it is regrettable to all concerned that the errors in the scientist's findings have emerged so late.
"Seven officers have been suspended whilst this case has been pending."
PA