North reaction:Sir Ronnie Flanagan should resign from his post as head of the Inspectorate of Constabulary, the leader of the SDLP said yesterday.
"He met with the Police Ombudsman's investigation but was unable to assist her investigation," Mark Durkan said. "He should not be heading up the Inspectorate of Constabulary. He should resign."
However, the Northern Secretary, Peter Hain told Channel 4 last night: "The ombudsman is not...pointing the figure particularly at Ronnie Flanagan...obviously everybody concerned will have to account for their responsibilities and that will take a bit of time to work through."
The Progressive Unionist Party, the political wing of the UVF, said the circumstances of Raymond McCord jnr's death were appalling and shameful.
"It highlights the failings of some RUC special branch handlers to uphold law and order and act with integrity and honesty in performing their duties. This failure quite literally allowed informants to get away with murder." The PUP said former leader David Ervine had repeatedly called for an inquiry.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin will seek an urgent meeting with the government to discuss the Police Ombudsman's report into RUC collusion with UVF killers, party president Gerry Adams said last night.