Allegations of RUC threats against the Lurgan solicitor murdered last month stood up, the Taoiseach said.

Mr Ahern said there was a background of "fairly strong allegations of threats and intimidation by RUC officers directed at Rosemary Nelson, which I think stand up, quite frankly."

He said that concerns had been raised by probably everybody he had spoken to about the ability of the RUC to conduct the investigation into her death in an impartial and thorough manner on their own. "That is why the FBI and two separate policing groups are involved."

Regarding potential witnesses, there were many people in possession of relevant information, but they were reluctant to come forward because of the RUC's involvement in the investigation, Mr Ahern said. "So what we have to try to negotiate and finalise with the British government, be satisfied with - which I am not yet, but I hope I will be - is that the investigation is structured and operated in such a way that all potential witnesses, or those with relevant information, can with confidence come forward."

The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, asked Mr Ahern to outline the allegations which he believed stood up.

Mr Ahern replied that Ms Nelson had given detailed accounts to the congressional hearings. They would have a detailed account for their upcoming hearings of the chapter and verse, dates, times, locations and clients who were in some way intimidated. "It makes a fairly conclusive story."

The Congress was of the belief that the allegations were more than just of some merit. "As I have said a number of times, I am sure that the vast majority of officers go about their business in an upstanding and correct way, but there certainly seem to be those in this case who do not," Mr Ahern said.

He said that Ms Nelson's more detailed work was in the Pat Finucane case. "The work Ms Nelson was doing in the congressional hearing was very much to do with the Pat Finucane case", he said. "Those groups who met me think that her death was as much to do with that as other issues. And I think that very much has to be taken into account."

On the Hillsborough Declaration, the Taoiseach said its contents demonstrated that those involved were trying to use their imagination to give everyone "a soft landing" on the issue. "I am being honest in saying that the hostility with which I thought was a very soft landing was greeted leaves me unsure about how the process can be moved forward, but I am honour bound to try to find a resolution and will continue to do so."

Mr John Bruton, said the declaration was a genuine and imaginative effort to overcome the difficulties for everybody. "My only regret is that it was rejected so readily by people for whom it was designed to be of assistance. I am worried that might not have happened if we had not published it."