Sinn Féin has passed an emergency motion urging those involved in the murder of Robert McCartney to admit their role and make themselves accountable in court.
The motion was put forward by the party's Ard Comhairle at the Ard Fheis in the RDS in Dublin tonight.
Earlier Sinn Féin's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness also called on people involved in the murder of Robert McCartney to make themselves accountable in court.
During his opening speach at the ardfheis this evening Mr McGuinness said he was "outraged and saddened at the involvement of a small number of IRA volunteers" in the murder.
"The McCartney family are absolutely right when they say that those responsible should be held accountable for their actions and should make themselves accountable for their actions. I again urge all of those involved in any way to admit their role and to make themselves accountable in court," he said.
"The murder of Robert McCartney was wrong...was a grievous crime...it is wrong that those who witnessed the murder should be intimidated in any way," Mr McGuinness said.
Up to 2,000 people are expected to attend a conference which comes on a day an opinion poll in the Republic showed party leader Mr Gerry Adams's public standing in a state of free-fall - dropping to its lowest since first measured three years ago.
Mr Adams will address delegates tomorrow at the same time.
There are signs the party's links to the IRA are becoming an electoral liability. Where once it was perceived as a party capable of delivering an end to IRA violence, a wider body of political opponents and the media have been hammering home the message that the party is indivisible from its paramilitary wing. The poll suggests the public are buying the message.
Perhaps recognising the damage to the party's image being done, Mr Adams yesterday suspended seven members of the party. He passed their names to the Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan after the McCartney family identified them as having knowledge of the circumstances surrounding Robert's murder last month.
"I was informed that seven of those named are members of Sinn Féin. All were immediately suspended from the party. This is on a without-prejudice basis ... pending the outcome of the legal process," Mr Adams said.
"If any of these seven are found to have been involved in the events
surrounding the death of Robert McCartney, or if they do not provide truthful accounts at this time as the McCartney family have requested, Sinn Féin will take further internal disciplinary action to expel these individuals," he continued.
This morning's Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll shows Sinn Féin down two points to 9 per cent, down two points since January and three points since a poll taken in October before the Northern bank robbery.
While this figure is still stronger than it was at the last General Election, Mr Adams personal approval rating has collapsed in the past six months. He is down 21 points since October, falling 12 points on the January poll.