The RUC was "very close" to uncovering the identity of the Omagh bombers, Sir Ronnie Flanagan said yesterday. The RUC Chief Constable also vowed that charges would be brought against the perpetrators of the August 15th atrocity.
He dismissed reports that a decision was imminent on whether to charge people in connection with the bombing.
"We are very close to knowing who is involved in this atrocity." But he added: "It is wrong to consider that at any given deadline we are about to bring charges."
Speaking on BBC 1's Breakfast With Frost programme Sir Ronnie also called for the victims of so-called punishment attacks to come forward so the RUC could take action against those inflicting paramilitary justice on communities in the North. "We treat these things with tremendous sensitivity and we would ensure their protection," he said.
He condemned the attacks as the "most abhorrent activity" imaginable. "I don't like to call them punishment beatings. These things are organised paramilitary mutilations of victims." He urged people to work "in partnership" with the force and to reject the attacks "with one voice".
Commenting on the demands from republicans for the RUC to be disbanded, he said that it was "preposterous" and "not even an option".
Earlier, the Rev Ian Paisley said he would not return the RUC dossier he used to "name and shame" 20 people in the House of Commons. A spokesman for the DUP leader said Dr Paisley would meet the RUC if requested but would not hand back the confidential files.
"The police know they're genuine and they know that there is hundreds more like them," Mr Ian Paisley jnr said yesterday. The RUC was skating on thin ice as the statement by his father had been made under parliamentary privilege, he added.
Mr Paisley would make no comment on reports that three of the people Dr Paisley named as being involved in the 1976 Kingsmill massacre have threatened to take legal action if the allegations are repeated.
Meanwhile, the Orange Order has echoed demands by Unionist politicians that there be full IRA decommissioning before Sinn Fein is admitted into an Assembly executive.