The British government has confirmed it has completed a legal check of a report into the sectarian murder of Robert Hamill.
Secretary of state Owen Paterson said there was nothing in the findings of the public inquiry into the case that posed a risk to individuals and so the report could eventually be published in full.
But he repeated his plan to delay its release until the conclusion of the prosecutions against three people, including a former police officer, in connection with the case.
The report will now remain under the care of the inquiry team, and will be held in a secure location, until it can be published.
Mr Hamill (25), a Catholic, was beaten to death by a loyalist mob in the predominantly Protestant town of Portadown, Co Armagh, in 1997 as he walked home after a night out with friends.
Controversy has focused on allegations that armed police at the scene failed to intervene to prevent the attack and that the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) subsequently mishandled the investigation.
No one has been convicted of the murder of the father of three.
In January, the Public Prosecution Service confirmed the test for prosecution
had been reached in relation to two people accused of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, and one for intent to pervert the course of justice.
In a statement released at Westminster, Mr Paterson said: “I can confirm that this checking process has now been completed and I have received advice from the checking team which confirms that there is nothing in the report which, if published, could breach Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights by putting the lives or safety of individuals at risk, or put national security at risk.
“I am therefore satisfied that once legal proceedings have concluded, the report can be published in full.
“I have advised Sir Edwin Jowitt, the chairman of the inquiry, of this. I have also asked Sir Edwin to retain formal custody of the report in a secure location until the legal proceedings have concluded and it can be submitted to me and be published.
“The report has not been shown to me or to any other member of the Government, or to any officials except the two members of the team which carried out the checking process.
“I have not been briefed on the contents of the report, nor have any officials other than those in the checking team.”
He added: “Again, I reassure the House that once the legal proceedings have concluded, I intend to publish the report in full and as soon as practicable.
Once a timetable for publication becomes clear, I will update the House accordingly.”
PA