Relatives of murdered solicitor Pat Finucane will today mark the 19th anniversary of the killing by pressing British prime minister Gordon Brown and Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward for a full inquiry.
The Taoiseach's office confirmed last night that Mr Ahern also raised the issue with Mr Brown on Sunday. His spokesman said no commitments were given by the prime minister.
An international public inquiry was recommended by retired Canadian judge Peter Cory who investigated the case in 2004. The British government however, subsequently passed legislation enabling much of any such inquiry's findings to be withheld from publication.
The Finucane family has opposed this and has repeated calls for an inquiry to be held under existing legislation.
Former London police chief Sir John Stevens has concluded a number of investigations into collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and the RUC. However, the vast bulk of his findings are being kept secret.
The Finucanes have also announced that international human rights lawyers Michael Mansfield and Richard Harvey are to join their legal team.
Michael Finucane, the eldest son of Pat Finucane who is a Dublin-based solicitor, said: "The British government promised to establish an independent public inquiry following the recommendations of Justice Peter Cory. Britain then delayed the establishment of the inquiry to pass new legislation that gives control to its own ministers.
"Our legal team are tasked with ensuring the inquiry will not be reduced to a state vehicle for suppression. Secret justice is no justice at all."
In a statement Michael Mansfield said the significance of the murder of Pat Finucane could not be underestimated.
"The extent to which collusion existed between Britain and loyalist paramilitaries is deeply shocking, and all the more so when employed in the murder of an officer of the court to stop him from doing his job, and to deter others from doing theirs."
Richard Harvey added: "Nineteen years ago, I attended Pat Finucane's funeral in Belfast. It is unconscionable that successive governments have failed to conduct an independent inquiry.
"There can be no whitewash in this case and we will not allow another anniversary of this murder to pass without the government being called to account." The legal appointments and the raising of the issue on the occasion of the anniversary are being seen as a bid by the Finucanes to push the British government into action and to end the impasse over the type of inquiry to be held.
The family has already succeeded in pressing for a joint resolution to be passed by both houses of the US Congress. However, there has been little movement on the question of an inquiry since 2005.