The fresh independent inquiry into the police handling of the Omagh bombing investigation will also examine if the second investigation, organised by the PSNI in 2001, is at fault.
The policing board, which holds the PSNI and chief constable Sir Hugh Orde to account, has made clear an overview of the case will also review the PSNI's role since it was formed out of the old RUC in 2001.
However, comments yesterday from some of the political members of the board illustrated differences between the parties, despite the unanimous statement approved on Thursday night after a five-hour meeting on the issue.
DUP member Jeffrey Donaldson has repeatedly called for current efforts to concentrate on bringing those guilty of the 1998 bombing to justice, rather than on seeking to place the blame on former RUC chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan.
"The objective is to re-focus on the evidence and bring the focus back again on the need to secure a prosecution," he said yesterday.
The Lagan Valley MP said the failure of the case against south Armagh suspect Seán Hoey, acquitted of the bombing by the Crown Court two weeks ago, should not result in a witch-hunt against Sir Ronnie.
Republicans yesterday voiced their concern at the stance adopted by current chief constable Sir Hugh Orde, following the trial judge's scathing criticisms of some officers.
As the first anniversary approaches of Sinn Féin's historic decision to back policing throughout Ireland, board member and West Belfast Assembly representative Alex Maskey said he was concerned by Sir Hugh's decision to keep on duty two officers who gave evidence in the Omagh trial, despite files on them being sent to the Public Prosecution Service.