Damning collusion with loyalist paramilitary informers behind up to 15 murders went right to the top levels of Northern Ireland's police force, a devastating report has revealed.
But even though Special Branch handlers shielded the Ulster Volunteer Force gang involved, destroying evidence and thwarting criminal investigations, no officers are to face prosecution.
Nor will there be a public inquiry into the scandal uncovered by Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan, the Government has insisted.
Victims horrified by the scale of the cover-up and protection of terrorist killers, however, are considering a possible legal action against former RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan on the back of the worst-ever indictment of policing in Northern Ireland.
There were calls for his resignation as the head of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.
Following a three-year, £2 million inquiry, which involved more than 100 serving and former officers being questioned, the Ombudsman disclosed the levels of resistance her investigators encountered.
Officers who were questioned were accused of providing evasive, contradictory, farcical and untrue answers and delaying requests for information for up to two and half years.
Three retired assistant chief constables - two ranks below that of Chief Constable - seven detective chief superintendents and two detective superintendents were among 40 officers who refused to be interviewed. At least two of those implicated in the report are still serving in the reformed Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), current Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde disclosed.
After confirming that her probe had established collusion between Special Branch officers and the UVF unit based in north Belfast's Mount Vernon estate, Mrs O'Loan stressed it was not just junior handlers who were to blame.
She said: "They could not have operated as they did without the knowledge and support at the highest levels of the RUC and PSNI."
