AN attempt by a retired RUC officer to halt the publication of the Police Ombudsman's report into the case of the Derry Four has been branded "appalling".
Lawyers threatened to launch injunction proceedings earlier this week.
While the injunction threat was later shelved potential judicial review proceedings remain in place.
In a statement members of the Derry Four last night said "the attempt this week to block the publication of this report, by one of the ciphered retired officers in this report, was appalling" adding that it was "robustly defended by both the ombudsman and our lawyers".
Marie Anderson's report, which was published yesterday, found that the four Derry men, Gerry Kelly, Gerry McGowan, Michael Toner and Stephen Crumlish, were subjected to "coercion and oppression" before 'confessing' to killing a British soldier and other paramilitary activity more than 40 years ago.
Mr McGowan last night said: "We were just teenagers at the time, 17 and 18 years old.
"We were all innocent of this offence."
He added that the four men welcome the ombudsman's findings.
"She has outlined systemic failures in how young persons in custody were treated at the time," he said.
Mr McGowan said the report helps bring closure.
"In 2019 we received a settlement from the chief constable, however to date no single officer has been held accountable for what has happened to us," he said.
"This is the final piece of the jigsaw in the 43-year journey in the pursuit of justice."
Ms Anderson last night confirmed that late on Wednesday afternoon her office "received proceedings seeking interim relief to stop me publishing the public statement and also a substantive challenge to the contents of the public statement by way of judicial review".
"I am happy to say that after discussions with their legal representatives yesterday (Thursday) that the injunctive relief application was not pursued and therefore I'm able to publish today.
"But I can't say any more because the substantive judicial review proceedings brought by a former police officer, now retired, are still ongoing."
Ms Anderson added that while "there was earlier correspondence" she "was surprised by the lateness of the application".
The ombudsman described her meeting with the men yesterday as "emotional".
"I was impressed by the dignity of the men today," she said.
"They have endured much and they have been very patient with our office and I thank them for that."
Sara Duddy from the Pat Finucane Centre, which has supported the men, said: "We hope this report is useful for other young people who were subjected to oppressive ill treatment at the hands of the RUC."
