Northern Ireland's police watchdog body has detailed a "catalogue" of complaints about how the RUC handled an investigation into allegations of police death threats against the murdered Lurgan solicitor, Ms Rosemary Nelson.
A confidential report from the Independent Commission for Police Complaints, seen by The Irish Times, complains of an "observable general hostility, evasiveness and disinterest" in the investigation on the part of 21 officers against whom allegations of threats were made.
The commission was also critical of an RUC chief inspector responsible for the day-to-day running of the inquiry into the allegations which were made by Ms Nelson and one of her clients, a Lurgan republican, Mr Colin Duffy.
The commission had supervisory powers over the investigation and this role was taken by one of its members, Ms Geralyn McNally, a barrister. She was so concerned with the RUC handling of the inquiry that last summer, one year into the investigation, the commission chairman, Mr Paul Donnelly, conveyed her worries to the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam.
Ms McNally had four main areas of complaint. First, she said the chief inspector "appeared to have difficulty in co-operating productively" with her in her position as investigation supervisor, and secondly the concerns she raised "were either not addressed or addressed unsatisfactorily".
She further complained of the accused officers being apparently prompted on how to present their cases to the investigation.
Perhaps most tellingly, the commission report stated: "The ill-disguised hostility to Mrs Nelson on the part of some police officers was indicative of a mindset which could be viewed as bordering on the obstructive."
The report added: "Throughout the investigation, the supervising member consistently raised concerns about its conduct and the behaviour and attitudes displayed by police officers in the course of interviews. Ultimately she concluded that the accumulated effect of these shortcomings was such as to be seriously damaging to the credibility of the investigation itself."
The report also complained of problems with police professionalism and a general lack of co-operation with the investigation, which was headed by an RUC superintendent. It criticised the chief inspector for making a number of assertions which constituted "judgments on the moral character of Mrs Nelson and others".
The commission found a later investigation by British police officers to be satisfactory.
Last night Ms Nelson's husband, Paul, called for an independent inquiry into the murder.
Mr Patrick Fahy, an Omagh solicitor, launched a petition yesterday calling for the inquiry to be taken from the RUC. He said 200 solicitors had already signed the petition, which is to be presented to the British and Irish governments.
Mark Brennock adds from Berlin: The Taoiseach said last night he had been reassured by the British Prime Minister that the Chief Constable of the Kent Police, Mr David Philips, would be leading the investigation into Ms Nelson's murder and would have his team of detectives from outside the RUC.
After their meeting, Mr Ahern said he and Mr Blair would have further talks to discuss the impasse in the Northern Ireland peace process. He said they had agreed that the process needed "an injection of momentum and effort".
