Bertie Ahern: Inquiry should have public confidence

"It is essential that the truth be established in a manner which will command the confidence of the whole community.

"For this reason, I am of the view that an independent, judicial public inquiry needs to be established into all of the circumstances surrounding her death."

Mr Ahern praised the investigation into Mrs Nelson's death being carried out by officers mainly from UK forces, headed by Norfolk Deputy Chief Constable, Colin Port.

He added: "Rosemary Nelson's murder was an attack on a dedicated and committed defence lawyer and human rights defender. It was also an attack on the legal system itself.

"We all want to see the perpetrators of this foul murder brought to justice as quickly as possible."

Colin Port: Leading current investigation

Eunan Magee, Mrs Nelson's brother, said: "As a family it has been extremely frustrating.

"The taoiseach is another person in a long list of people who have already called for a public inquiry into Rosemary's murder and I think having done so it has strengthened our case."

He said the next step would be for Mr Ahern to raise the matter with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Mr Ahern also met Mrs Nelson's sister, Caitlin McVeigh, along with family solicitor Colm Owens, Paul Mageean of the Committee for the Administration of Justice and Jane Winter of British/Irish Rights Watch.

Last August, Colin Port said the investigation had uncovered nothing pointing to security force collusion in the killing.

He also made a renewed call for information about the murder in a television broadcast throughout the UK.