The publication of the Stevens Inquiry's report on collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and the security forces has been delayed until the autumn.
The report was expected to be published in July, but there had been concern it might heighten tensions at an already volatile time of the year.
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said yesterday the delay was due to Sir John Stevens's determination to produce a report that was "absolutely thorough".
It is understood the Metropolitan's Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Mr Hugh Orde, who was in charge of the day-to-day running of the inquiry, has resigned from his role. Sir John will again take day-to-day control of the inquiry.
Mr Orde is due to take up the position of Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable. Scotland Yard said under the circumstances it would have been inappropriate for him to continue in his role with the Stevens team.
BBC's Panorama programme has alleged widespread collusion between loyalist paramilitaries, the British army's Force Research Unit and RUC Special Branch officers in the killings of a number of Catholics, among them the Belfast solicitor, Mr Pat Finucane.
The Sinn Féin vice-president, Mr Pat Doherty, said yesterday collusion with loyalists was an official policy "devised and sanctioned at the highest levels within the British government".
". . . In the coming weeks and months, the British political and military establishment will once again close ranks to obstruct the disclosure of the truth about large- scale institutionalised collusion and their role in it," he said.
"However, the can of worms has well and truly opened, and they may find it more difficult, if not impossible, to put the cap back on this time."
Meanwhile, the Protestant victims' group Families Acting for Innocent Relatives said innocent victims had been hurt by the collusion allegations. The group's spokesman, Mr William Frazer, added: "As innocent victims we are hurt by the present scenes of terrorists and their associates being feted as martyrs and heroes.
"The real story of the Troubles is a tale of terror where, rather than collusion, the state is guilty of complacency. We have listened to the hypocrisy of terrorists for too long when they attack the security forces by night with weapons and then by day with propaganda.
"If republicans are so sure they were fighting a war, then why do they find it so shocking that they got killed?"
An SDLP member of the North's Policing Board, Mr Alex Attwood, called for a quick publication of the Stevens report, saying time was of the essence if public confidence in the police service was to be restored.
"The priorities remain getting to the truth of the Finucane and other murders, the ending of army involvement in intelligence-gathering and securing accountable intelligence conduct within the PSNI," Mr Attwood said.
"These priorities require an independent international inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane, support for Policing Board activities around intelligence operations and that the Chilcock review does not lead to further MI5 involvement in the North."