An inquiry into the murder of lawyer Rosemary Nelson has found that ‘omissions’ by state agencies made her ‘more at risk and more vulnerable’, Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson said.
Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson told the Britain's House of Commons there was ‘no evidence of any act by or within any of the state agencies ... which directly facilitated’ the killing in 1999.
But the Northern Ireland Office and the Royal Ulster Constabulary 'failed to take reasonable and proportionate steps' to safeguard her life.
He said: ‘I am profoundly sorry that omissions by the state rendered Rosemary Nelson more at risk and more vulnerable’.
The mother-of-three was killed when a bomb exploded under her car as she was driving away from her home in Lurgan in March, 1999.
Ms Nelson was a prominent Catholic solicitor who, in the 1990s, became a hate figure for loyalists because she defended the leading Republican, Colin Duffy, who was acquitted of murdering two RUC officers.
She also represented the Nationalist Garvaghy Road residents in their bitter dispute with the Orange Order over the Drumcree parade.
PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggottapologised on behalf of the Northern Ireland police service for any failings identified in the findings of the inquiry into the murder of Ms Nelson.
Speaking after the report was made public in the British House of Commons, Matt Baggott extended his sympathies to the family of Ms Nelson.
He also pointed out that many changes had been made to policies in policing over the past decade, but said the force would move quickly if it found that more needed to be done.
Mr Baggott said Rosemary Nelson had been killed in a brutal manner, and said he deeply regretted that no-one had been charged in connection with her murder.
He appealed for anyone for information about her death to contact the PSNI.
Before her death in 1999, Mrs Nelson claimed her life had been threatened by RUC officers.
The Police Ombudsman, Nuala O’Loan, carried out an inquiry and concluded that the RUC's actions had been inadequate and had disregarded Mrs Nelson's safety.
The public inquiry, which was established later, under retired English High Court judge Sir Michael Moreland heard 350 witnesses and considered thousands of documents.
The completed report running to 700 pages is to be published at Westminster by Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Patterson.
