Statement from Assistant Commissioner Malcolm Burgess:
It would have been helpful if Mr Bain's supporters raised these issues direct with police for clarification before launching them into the media with claims of wrongdoing or incompetence.
The fingerprints of Robin Bain taken on 21st June 1994 and released by Mr Karam today were taken by a detective.
These were examined by a police fingerprint expert at the time who determined they were not of adequate quality.
That fingerprint expert then took two further sets of prints on 22nd June 1994. These are the quality prints which have always been relied on in this case by fingerprint experts.
A copy of the right thumb print from one of these sets taken by the fingerprint expert on 22nd June was issued by police following last month's 3rd Degree programme.
Police are applying for access to all of the original prints. These are held by the court, not by police.
These will be examined thoroughly to see if they assist in determining the nature of the marks on Robin Bain's thumb.
Police have made it clear there could be several possibilities to explain these marks. Right now any explanation for them remains a theory.
Whilst it is hoped the examination will provide greater clarity, it also remains a real possibility that even after the originals have been examined there will still be no definite conclusion regarding the marks.
END
Issued by:
Grant Ogilvie, PNHQ media team
027 236 9974