The Northern Ireland Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan will meet relatives of people killed in the Omagh bomb next month, his spokesman confirmed tonight.
Talks will take place with the families when he delivers his response to the stinging criticism of the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Mrs Nuala O'Loan who claimed his flawed judgment had significantly reduced the chances of apprehending the bombers.
Members of the new Northern Ireland Policing Board are also to meet next week for preliminary discussions over the row between Sir Ronnie and Mrs O'Loan.
Sir Ronnie asked for the meeting with the relatives in a bid to allay concerns following the Ombudsman's report.
Mr Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan (21), was among the 29 people killed in the August 1998 bomb said the sooner the meeting happened the better.
He said tonight: "There was no animosity, there was no unpleasantness. But there is likely to be some hostility. Sir Ronnie believes the Ombudsman has got it wrong and this is an opportunity for him to tell us where she got it wrong."
Relatives have already demanded a full public inquiry.
A team of outside officers, possibly from Merseyside, are to be called in to help with a fresh inquiry into the killings but it is likely the investigation will be widened in a bid to bring the killers to justice.
Detectives in Omagh are probing a series of linked attacks with the outrage in an effort to connect some of the suspects with those incidents.
The Ombudsman's office tonight refused to make any comment on the developing controversy which has left people in Omagh stunned and confused by the fallout between Mrs O'Loan and Sir Ronnie, who is due to retire early in the New Year.
Sir Ronnie's response to the Ombudsman's devastating report which claimed defective leadership, poor judgment and a lack of urgency undermined efforts to catch the bombers.
The Chief Constable said today he hoped the damage caused by the report could be healed but sources on both sides tonight said they believed a rift had developed which might never be closed.
A source close to Sir Ronnie said: "He is preparing a robust defence to her allegations and he intends to make sure the relatives hear it first."
Some of the families are pressing ahead with legal action against the Real IRA and four of the men suspected of the car bomb - but they still need another £500,000 (sterling) to cover legal costs.
Writs are expected to be served early next year, with the first hearing at the High Court in Belfast due to take place some time in the summer.
PA