The sisters of murdered Belfast man Robert McCartney will attend the Sinn Féin ardfheis, it has been confirmed.
Catherine McCartney confirmed today that the family had agreed to an invitation from Sinn Fein to hear party president Gerry Adams's address.
"If anyone wants to talk to us at the conference and listen to our story, they're welcome.
"We will go wherever and meet whoever we have to."
Mr McCartney was stabbed and beaten when a row in a Belfast city bar on January 30th escalated. The IRA has expelled three members following an internal investigation into claims by the family that Provisionals killed the East Belfast man, covered evidence up and intimidated witnesses from going to the police.
On Thursday Mr Adams suspended seven members of the party amid claims that they were involved. The suspensions could become expulsions if the members are found guilty in any legal process arising from the case.
Republicans have been reluctant to go to the police with information about the killing because of Sinn Fein's refusal to endorse Northern Ireland 's new police service.
But in a bid to assist the investigation, Northern Ireland 's Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan has agreed with the Police Service of Northern Ireland that her investigators can take statements from people who witnessed the fatal attack on Mr McCartney and the serious wounding of his friend, Brendan Devine.
Detective Superintendent George Hamilton of the PSNI yesterday appealed for witnesses to be allowed to come forward without fear of intimidation. He also confirmed that people arrested and questioned about the murder who have been released without charge have exercised a right to silence.
Catherine McCartney said the family hoped their presence would help efforts to get justice. She noted Sinn Fein chief negotiator Martin McGuinness's insistence last night that republicans were outraged by the murder.
"It does appear republicans are beginning to address this," she said. "However at the end of the day it is what happens on the ground that really matters over our brother's murder.
"We need a situation where what the republican leadership are saying reflects what is being done on the ground.
"We just need the message to go from the top down to the ground and ensure that information is getting to this investigation and people are not just exercising a right to silence."
PA