The families of those killed must be the first to receive an explanation for the Bloody Sunday Inquiry delay, a sister of one of the victims has said.
On Wednesday Lord Saville declined to meet the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee to discuss the delay, saying he could not do so without divulging sensitive details of the ten-year investigation.
The chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Commi
ttee, said he was disappointed at Lord Saville's response.
Sir Patrick Cormack said the Committee is "extremely disappointed and concerned at this further delay and the consequential costs, and at the inevitable worry that gives to many people."
"We sincerely hope that this will be the last delay and that the inquiry's report will be published before the end of 2009," he said.
But Jean Hegarty, whose brother Kevin McElhinney was killed on Bloody Sunday, said the families " would have been more than disappointed" had Lord Saville met with the committee.
"Lord Saville has refused to meet with the families to discuss the delay so we would have been more than disappointed had he chose to meet with the committee.
" We would not have been happy if he had chosen to offer explanations to others before us."
She said the delay remained a source of consternation for the Bloody Sunday families.
"The families remain concerned about the delay. But we are grateful lord Saville declined to discuss it without first explaining it to the families. It restores a bit of confidence in the process," she said.
Thirteen people were killed on Sunday January 30 1972 when paratroopers shot 27 civilians in Derry. A 14th victim died later.
The Saville inquiry, which has so far cost £185million, began in 1998. Lord Saville's report is expected in the autumn of 2009.
