Kevin's family wanted an outside force to be put in charge of a review of the circumstances in which the 24-year-old lost his life at the end of a night out with friends.

But Mr Latimer believes a fresh inquiry is unwarranted in the absence of new information that could shed light on how Kevin died.

The response has angered his parents, Hugh and June McLeod, and uncle Allan McLeod, who are convinced Kevin was brutally beaten up shortly before he ended up in the harbour.

Their request for an outside force to take charge of a new probe into the death was made at a meeting with Mr Latimer on December 19.

It came in the wake of having grievances upheld concerning how their complaints about Northern Constabulary had been dealt with.

In his report, Scottish Police Complaints Commissioner Jim Martin accused the force of "institutional arrogance" in its dealings with the family.

Earlier, the force's initial investigation into the death was criticised at the fatal accident inquiry and in an independent inquiry headed by Chief Constable Andrew Cameron of Central Scotland Police.

Yesterday, Allan McLeod said Mr Latimer's latest knock-back was not unexpected.

"We are bitterly disappointed but not surprised," he said. "We wished to build bridges and move forward but he has refused our request to invite an outside force to review the circumstances of their investigation into Kevin's death."

Allan McLeod said the family and their solicitor were "fairly confident" a new probe would have led to a conviction. This, he claimed, would have embarrassed Mr Latimer, the force and the police board.

The family said only Mr Latimer's immediate resignation could restore public trust and faith in Northern Constabulary.

Following his meeting with the family, Mr Latimer had consulted with Crown Office officials about the merits of a cold case review.

A new probe was ruled out but Mr Latimer did offer to have a further meeting with the family to discuss issues of concern.

Allan McLeod said the chief constable had laid down preconditions for a follow-up meeting which the family were unhappy with.

He said that the outstanding concern is to have a new probe into the circumstances of the death.

"We are now in a position that the only aspect of Kevin's death that has not been independently reviewed is the actual police investigation," he explained.

The failure to support a new probe, he claimed, showed up as hollow the unreserved apologies made to the family by Mr Latimer and the police board. Mr McLeod asked: "If he (Mr Latimer) has nothing to hide or fear, then why refuse our request?

"It's the very least we, the family, and the public deserve after their botched initial murder inquiry, the mishandling of our complaints and the sheer hell that Mr Latimer and his force have put the family through over the last 11 years."

He continued: "It is our belief that due to Northern Constabulary's serious failings and incompetence at the initial investigation, and through refusing our request for a review, they are allowing the people responsible for Kevin's death to walk free."

Mr McLeod said the family are seeking Far North MP John Thurso's help in asking Lord Advocate Eilish Angiolini to instruct a new probe.

The McLeods insist they have uncovered fresh leads to help solve the case.

In his response to the family, Mr Latimer said Kevin's death had been subject to a level of independent scrutiny largely without precedent in Scotland.

He stated: "The Crown has independently considered all submissions by the force with these reports being considered by not only the area procurator fiscal for the Highlands and Islands but also by senior advocates within the Crown Office."

Mr Latimer continued: "As the Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland in his report confirms, the independent view of the Crown is that there are no outstanding issues or questions which remain to be investigated into the death of your son. Whilst the case remains subject to periodic internal review and is, in that sense, still open, I see no opportunity or reasoning to support a more wide-ranging review given that the actions and investigations undertaken by the constabulary have been subject to independent consideration by the Crown on a number of previous occasions."

Any new information provided by the family would, he pledged, be acted upon.

iain-grant@ukf.net

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