The Chief Constable of the North's Police Service is to meet relatives of people killed in the Omagh bomb next month. The meeting will take place when Sir Ronnie Flanagan delivers his response to the criticism contained in the Ombudsman's report into the Omagh enquiry.
Nuala O'Loan, who compiled the report into the RUC investigation of the Omagh bombing, criticised what she said was the seriously flawed judgement and leadership of the Chief Constable.
Sir Ronnie said that he regrets saying he would publicly commit suicide if the conclusions about him in the Ombudsman's report were true.
This morning, Sir Ronnie said his remark was unduly emotive, but that it showed how deeply flawed and unfair he thought the Ombudsman's report was. He also said he hoped his relations with Ms O'Loan could be rebuilt.
In a BBC interview, he said he had the highest respect and regard for Nuala O'Loan. But he believed he had been sorely wronged.
He believed the Ombudsman had approached her investigation grossly unfairly, and its conduct was not appropriate in terms of any he had ever been involved with as a policeman.
Sir Ronnie, who spoke with some of the relatives of the bomb victims last night, said he would be letting them have the police's response to the report early in the New Year, when he would also be reporting to the Policing Board, the Ombudsman, and the Northern Secretary.
