The PSNI Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Orde, has formally apologised to the McConville family following the publication of the Police Ombudsman's report into the death of Jean McConville.
Nuala O'Loan found that police did not conduct a proper investigation into her killing, despite intelligence that the mother of ten was still alive some time after her abduction in 1972.
She said she was upholding a complaint about the police investigation brought by two of the victim's children.
Mrs McConville's son, Michael, said the report was a big let down for the family and that his mother might still be alive if detectives had acted sooner.
Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde has said the case should have been better investigated.
He also said he would be happy to facilitate a meeting with Michael McConville following the release of the Ombudsman's report.
Mr Orde also said he believed history had to be dealt with and they had set up an historic inquiries team which was working very closely with gardaí who are investigating the murder.
He said it was a tragic case that happened 34 years ago at the height of the troubles in a year when 470 people were killed, 5,000 were injured, there were 10,000 shootings and 2,000 bombings.
The way police investigate now is very different, he added.
