Northern police ombudsman Nuala O'Loan has offered herself as an intermediary between the police and those who may wish to come forward to give evidence against Robert McCartney's killers but are not prepared to go directly to the PSNI.
Mrs O'Loan intervened in the case as Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams insisted the "self-preservation and selfishness" of those who killed Mr McCartney will not be allowed to "prevail" and that they must be made accountable to the courts.
The ombudsman, whose proposal was welcomed by the McCartney family, is to liaise with PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde to establish how this potential gathering of evidence from witnesses might work.
Mr Orde, at a Policing Board meeting yesterday, said he understood how some people felt uncomfortable giving evidence directly to the police.
"We are keen to encourage witnesses to come forward and speak directly to the police service. However, we are clear that in keeping with best practice in the UK, if people do not feel able to do that, we have no difficulty with them talking to third parties as a first step to build confidence," he added.
Two men were arrested in connection with the killing after they individually made themselves available to the police in recent days. Both were released without charge.
Mr Orde believed that some who could provide useful evidence feared they would be targeted some time in the future after the conclusion of any court case.
Potentially, with Mrs O'Loan as intermediary, witnesses could give evidence directly to the ombudsman's trained investigators.
If these statements were then processed and sent on as part of the police file to the DPP, the case could come before the court without witnesses hostile to the PSNI having to deal directly with police.
A spokesman for Mrs O'Loan said that theoretically such an unfolding of events was possible although it might be necessary at some stage for witnesses to engage with police.
What was crucial, however, Mr Orde said yesterday, was that if witnesses would not talk to the PSNI they must be prepared to give evidence in court.
Mr Adams said yesterday he wished to repeat with "absolute clarity" that whoever killed Mr McCartney should come forward and take responsibility for their actions.
"So far, Robert McCartney's killer has not had the courage to do this. Self-preservation and selfishness will not prevail in this case.
"I am not letting this issue go until those who have sullied the republican cause are made to account for their action," he said.
Mr Adams added that in urging support for the McCartneys he wanted people who had information about the killing to provide it so that the killers were "brought to justice".
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, said yesterday that witnesses to the killing are still being intimidated.Belfast-based Department of Foreign Affairs officials have "quite clearly" reported that none of the witnesses had yet given information that helps the murder investigation.
He was speaking after a meeting in Iveagh House with Northern Secretary of State Paul Murphy, which was also attended by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell.
Mr Murphy agreed with Mr Ahern: "Clearly there is intimidation being carried out. We are condemning that intimidation. It should not happen in a democratic society".