The Taoiseach will support the Finucane family if they decide not to co-operate with a restricted public inquiry into the murder of solicitor Pat Finucane, they claimed last night.
After the meeting between Mr Ahern and the family, led by the dead man's widow, Geraldine, Mr Michael Finucane told The Irish Times their participation in any inquiry depended on its terms. These have to be laid down in new legislation which is expected next month.
He said: "We discussed the possibility that the family might have to walk away from the inquiry because it was wholly unsatisfactory. This was discussed with the Taoiseach and he agreed to support whatever position we took."
Last month, the Northern Secretary announced a public inquiry into the murder of Mr Finucane by the UDA in collaboration with members of the security forces. However, Mr Paul Murphy also said the terms of an inquiry would be set out under new legislation, claiming that much of the expected evidence would concern national security and would need to be heard in private.
The Finucane family suspects the inquiry will fall short of the public judicial inquiry they have campaigned for since 1989 and they may not participate.
If the Irish Government supports them in any such withdrawal, it will mark the end of the bipartisan approach with the British government to inquiries into controversial killings involving alleged collusion with paramilitaries.
The two governments agreed at Weston Park in 2001 that they would conduct public inquiries into such killings once recommended to do so by Judge Peter Cory who investigated the cases.
Mr Ahern has stated he stands by demands for a full public inquiry into the Finucane case, a position reiterated by a Government spokeswoman last night.
The meeting yesterday dealt with the family's concerns about the Northern Secretary's conditions surrounding the announced inquiry. The Finucanes will raise their concerns at Downing Street on November 2nd.