THE findings of the Police Ombudsman investigation into the RUC's handling of a series of UDA attacks which claimed the lives of 19 people are at once both shocking and unsurprising.
The shock lies in the extent of "collusive behaviour" laid out in black and white, detailing acts and omissions as loyalist paramilitaries in the north west engaged in a killing spree between 1989 and 1993, culminating in the massacre at the Rising Sun Bar in Greysteel.
Ombudsman Marie Anderson has raised significant concerns about police conduct, vindicating questions raised by families over many years.
They relate to deadly attacks including the murders of four people at Castlerock and eight at Greysteel as well as multiple attempted killings.
After being initially slow to respond to the arming of the UDA/UFF in the area, the RUC in some cases failed to warn targets they were under threat.
Informants continued to be used even though intelligence said they were involved in serious crimes including murder, and documentation was deliberately destroyed.
Police also failed to properly deal with some security force members, including UDR and RUC officers, suspected of passing information to loyalist paramilitaries.
The findings will finally provide some answers to families who have waited 30 years for the full truth to emerge about their loved ones' deaths.
The report, however, is just the latest in a series of investigations that has raised disturbing questions about the use of informers and agents during the Troubles and relationships between security forces and loyalist paramilitaries.
It should be noted that Ms Anderson said she found no evidence that the RUC had prior knowledge of attacks. Police investigations were also said to be thorough, with convictions resulting in some cases.
But it was depressing that the DUP yesterday chose to question the ombudsman's use of the term 'collusive' rather than focus on the behaviours themselves.
Whatever definition or description is used, it is clear that failings identified in the report represented a gross breach of police's duty to protect life and form part of a pattern of behaviour evidenced throughout the Troubles.
More than anything, the report demonstrates the need for the British government to listen to the clear voice of victims and politicians and abandon unilateral plans to shut down historical investigations.
While any attempt to address the bloody history of Northern Ireland is fraught with difficulties, all those bereaved by any hand remain entitled to truth and accountability as a fundamental right.
