Relatives of those who died in the Omagh bombing in 1998 have told the PSNI chief constable of their "unhappiness" that only one man has appeared before the courts in connection with the 28 murders.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was among the victims of the Real IRA bombing of the Tyrone town nearly eight years ago, said the two-hour talks with Sir Hugh Orde and other senior officers was "a difficult meeting for all involved".
"We asked him some very difficult questions - he did feel challenged," Mr Gallagher told The Irish Times last night.
Describing the meeting as "robust", Mr Gallagher added: "We told him we were deeply unhappy that after 7½ years only one man is before the courts. We fully support the PSNI and the Garda but we are very disappointed. We need more results."
Once current proceedings are concluded and all leads have been followed up, the families are demanding a full cross-Border inquiry, Mr Gallagher said.
"[ Sir Hugh] clearly felt challenged. He said at one point he didn't want to be interrogated and that he came to be helpful."
Asked what the benefit of the meeting was, Mr Gallagher said: "From the families' point of view the chief constable better understands us and we think he now understands the families."
Sir Hugh told them "enormous efforts" had been made in bringing a man before a court .
"We said we fully support Norman Baxter [ who leads the inquiry]. If we have a problem he'll be the first to know," Mr Gallagher said. But he added in reference to the intelligence services: "We are still not happy. I do believe the Baxter team are very well-intentioned but there are others outside of that team whom the PSNI have no control over, who could have been more helpful."
He said he had no confidence in MI5: "I would want to be sure that systems now are better than in 1998."
The families have scheduled a meeting with Irish Human Rights Commissioner, Senator Maurice Hayes, and are planning more talks with political leaders.
"We will plod away building support for a full cross-Border inquiry," he said.