In a strong-worded statement to the Belfast Telegraph, Mrs O'Loan said it was "important that the record is put right".

She said former officers refused requests by her investigators to speak to them over a six month period and instead sent regular correspondence through a solicitor.

"We put a series of questions about some of the murders I referred to earlier this week. Again they refused to answer them. Their solicitor said it would be 'completely impractical' to do so.

"These people were police officers. They know well that no investigator would view such a response as cooperation. One of the reasons the solicitor gave was that they had 'no real desire' to raise their media profile.

"I have noted that almost within 24 hours of my report being published they had begun a series of television, radio and newspaper interviews."

Mrs O'Loan added: "It is important that the public are not left with the impression that the attitude of these officers is typical of police officers and retired police officers.

"More than 100 serving and retired police officers cooperated with our investigation."