Detectives involved in the cross-Border investigation into the Omagh bombing met in the Co Tyrone town yesterday to assess their year-long inquiry into the August 15th "Real IRA" explosion which killed 29 people and injured over 300.
In an unprecedented investigation, teams from the RUC and the Garda Siochana, under Det Chief Supt Eric Anderson and Assistant Commissioner Kevin Carty respectively, have worked closely by sharing information and co-ordinating operations.
They have identified five of the men directly linked to the attack and more than 60 people who had prior knowledge of the bombing. However, there is resignation that the gang responsible may never be brought to justice.
To date one man has been charged in connection with the bombing and is due to stand trial in Dublin later this year. Mr Colm Murphy (46), who is on bail of £100,000, was charged in February with conspiracy to cause an explosion and membership of an illegal organisation.
An RUC spokesman said yesterday the force remained hopeful and determined that those responsible would be brought to justice, "but we don't want to raise false expectations of an imminent breakthrough", he added.
The RUC intends bringing in an officer from an English police force for a "fresh pair of eyes" on the evidence gathered to date.
Mr Anderson and the Det Insp Tadgh Foley met relatives of victims in recent weeks to update them on the investigation.
Mr Laurence Rush, who lost his wife Libby in the attack, said yesterday that the RUC had given him little hope of a successful outcome to the case, at a meeting two weeks ago. He had got a "better response" from the Garda. "I got the impression they don't like to be upended by these people," added Mr Rush.
One source close to the investigation said the Garda "have got to stay on this one". The day-to-day running of the joint investigation has not been scaled down. An estimated 4,000 witnesses have been interviewed with statements made by three-quarters of them. Forensic work has been completed and telecommunications experts have examined the use of a mobile phone in the Omagh area before and after the explosion.
The central suspects in the case include a south Armagh man, who made the 350 lb bomb and who has been linked to five bomb attacks in the months before the Omagh atrocity.