The mother of murdered Belfast father of two, Robert McCartney, has met with meeting with veteran Democrat Senator Edward Kennedy in Washington.
Kathleen McCartney paid tribute to the Senator's support. She said: "He was very supportive and he is genuine about this.
"He would like to see something done to catch Robert's murderers. "He said he would see what he could do and put it to Gerry Adams when he meets him."
Robert McCartney was stabbed outside a Belfast city centre bar in January last year in a murder which shocked nationalists on both sides of the Atlantic.
Republicans were accused by Robert's sisters and partner, Bridgen Hagans, of not doing enough to help bring his killers to justice because they were members of the IRA.
Following a high profile campaign the Provisionals expelled three members and in a statement confirmed that it had offered to shoot those responsible, but that was turned down.
Following further pressure Sinn Fein suspended 12 party members after it emerged they were in the bar, and it urged all witnesses to tell the authorities what they saw.
However, with Sinn Fein refusing to recognise the Police Service of Northern Ireland , the flow of information has been slow.
Rather than go directly to the PSNI, witnesses following Sinn Fein's advice have been encouraged to make statements to a third party, either Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan, or their solicitor.
Senator Kennedy is due to meet Gerry Adams ahead of St Patrick's Day celebrations in the White House.
The Massachusetts' Senator said after his meeting with the McCartneys that the murder was a defining issue and he paid tribute to them for persevering with their campaign despite intimidation and harassment.
Kathleen McCartney told BBC Radio Ulster that she had decided to go to Washington in the hope that it would prick the conscience of the mothers of those involved in her son's murder.