Relatives of the Omagh bomb victims tonight warned they will demand a full public inquiry if Northern Ireland's Policing Board does not resolve the bitter dispute over the inquiry into the atrocity.
Several families of those killed in the Real IRA outrage met members of the body set up to scrutinise the North’s police as the controversy surrounding a report into how officers handled the investigation continued.
Policing Board chairman Professor Desmond Rea led a seven-strong delegation to hear relatives' deep concerns following Police Ombudsman Mrs Nuala O'Loan's criticism of the police probe and Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan's strong defence.
Mr Kevin Skelton, whose wife Philomena was among the 29 people killed by the car bomb in August 1998, said it was now up to the Board to sort out the dispute.
He said: "We put questions to the Policing Board today. If they are not answered to our satisfaction, then there's no other way, it has to be a public inquiry."
The three-hour meeting was held Silverbirch Hotel in Omagh, Co Tyrone - where Sir Ronnie last week met victims' families to reassure them his officers have done everything possible to catch the terrorists.
Mr Skelton added a complete withdrawal of support for the ongoing police investigation remained an option, but said the families would wait until meetings next month before taking that step.
The Policing Board is due to meet both Mrs O'Loan and Sir Ronnie on February 5th. Two days later it will convene again when the Omagh bomb investigation controversy will top the agenda.
Prof Desmond Rea today said: "Mindful of the sensitivities of all parties we [the Board] will give full and proper consideration to all the relevant information."
However Mr Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was among those killed in the blast, said resolving the row was a defining challenge for the body.
Mr Gallagher, who tomorrow travels to London for an update on the civil action launched against those suspected of the bombing, added: "We are not here to try and change policing in this country, we are here to try and get the Omagh bomb investigation moving forward."
PA