The police investigation into the murder of a Catholic in Northern Ireland in 1997 was heavily criticised in a report by the Police Ombudsman today.
Nuala O'Loan upheld two complaints from Sean Brown's family that the investigation into his death had not been efficiently or properly carried out, and that no earnest effort was made to identify those who had carried out the murder.
She called the inquiry incomplete and inadequate.
Ms O’Loan concluded that, while it was clear RUC officers probing the murder did not get full co-operation from the community, there were significant failures in the investigation.
Her report listed a catalogue of failures and also highlighted the sudden disappearance of the police file on the murder once it was known the ombudsman was carrying out an investigation.
PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde, who received the report before publication, admitted today there had been significant failures in the probe.
He apologised to the Brown family and said he had set up a special team to reinvestigate the murder.
Mr Brown was abducted by loyalist paramilitaries in Bellaghy in Co Derry and was later found shot dead. A number of suspects were questioned but no one was ever charged with the crime.
Mr Brown's family asked the Ombudsman to examine the case almost three years ago.
