The PSNI is seeking to delay the handing over of a top-secret report into the alleged shoot-to-kill deaths of six men until next year, it can be revealed.

Earlier this week a deadline set by Northern Ireland’s senior coroner passed without the classified Stalker-Sampson file being disclosed by the Chief Constable.

The report is the summary of an investigation into the deaths of five republicans and a teenager and has remained under lock and key for more than two decades.

The six men died after operations carried out by the RUC in the Co Armagh area in late 1982.

Now the Belfast Telegraph has learned that the PSNI has applied to have that deadline extended until February. The request will be considered by senior coroner John Leckey at a further preliminary hearing later this month.

The PSNI released a statement yesterday which said the volume of material and complexity of the case had resulted in an “unavoidable delay”.

“Regrettably, the PSNI has been unable to meet the deadline set by the coroner for disclosure of the report,” a spokesman said.

“This is due to the volume and nature of the material to be processed and the complexity of the issues involved.

“The police service notified the coroner in advance of this unavoidable delay.

“The PSNI wishes to re-emphasise its willingness to co-operate fully with the coroner and continues to proceed as expeditiously as possible with a comprehensive disclosure exercise that involves a thorough evaluation of any risks to national security and consideration of human rights issues.

“The police service is in communication with the coroner about an alternative date for completion of this extensive and complex piece of work.”

In September Mr Leckey gave the Chief Constable until November 9 to release the never-published report by John Stalker and Colin Sampson. It relates to the killings of teenager Michael Tighe, IRA members Eugene Toman, Sean Burns and Gervaise McKerr, and INLA pair Roddy Carroll and Seamus Grew.

Sinn Fein Policing Board member Martina Anderson said the fresh delay was “unacceptable”.

“Sinn Fein intends to raise the issue as a matter of urgency as we will not allow bad practices of the RUC to be carried through into the PSNI,” she said.