It would be difficult to overstate the depth of the imbroglio which is now emerging as a result of the O'Loan inquiry into the Omagh bombing and the role of the RUC. Damning criticisms of police leadership and practice have been put down by the Ombudsman. And far-reaching questions about the future control of policing in Northern Ireland have been put sharply into focus for answer by those in political authority.
Mrs O'Loan states bluntly in the first paragraph of her summary that it is about a failure of leadership. Later she says that the "victims, their families, the people of Omagh and officers of the RUC were let down by defective leadership, poor judgment and a lack of urgency." She indicts the Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan. He said it was acceptable that Special Branch did not inform local police about a prior warning of an attack at Omagh, contrary to a standing force order. He is wrong, she declares.
Policing may sometimes owe as much to art as to science. Choices have to be made at every stage of both preventive and detective work, often intuitively. Many experienced officers will read the Ombudsman's report as a fine exercise in hindsight, describing how a perfect, textbook operation ought to have been run. Others however will recognise in the narrative some common characteristics of most police organisations - the instinctive urge to close ranks, to protect colleagues, to trade a possible short term loss for a possible long-term advantage.
But nobody reading the Ombudsman's summary will be other than shocked at the reported shortcomings in the follow-up investigations to the Omagh murders. The investigative response to the worst atrocity of the Troubles should have been comprehensive and unlimited as to scope and resources. It appears to have been anything but that. Furthermore, the inference is that investigations into other high-profile crimes may not have been handled as would have been expected.
The Ombudsman's criticisms have been vigorously rejected by the Chief Constable and many close observers believe there is a personal animus between the two individuals. There is certainly a clash of institutional strength and authority. And the way in which it is resolved will be enormously significant for the shaping and evolution of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Political parties are already under pressure to align themselves on one side or another of the issue.
The Northern Secretary, Dr Reid, will require the judgment of Solomon. He must ensure that there is strong, independent supervision of the new police service. But if terror and crime are to be contained the police must not be emasculated either.
The first essential step is to move on the Ombudsman's recommendations that an independent team should take over the investigation into the Omagh bombing and that a senior officer from an outside force should investigate other terrorist activities identified in the course of the review report. This saga has a long way to run.