President George Bush yesterday saluted the bravery of the sisters and partner of the Belfast man, Robert McCartney, who was murdered by members of the IRA in January.
During a brief private meeting in the White House, the president said he was glad he could "show solidarity and support", Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said afterwards.
"The girls very succinctly stated that they were not bitter people, that what they wanted was justice, that they wanted the rule of law and the courts system to get justice for them.
"They gave a straight and simple message as they have at home," Mr Ahern said after the White House reception, and his own meeting with President Bush.
"The president was very well aware of the circumstances and extremely well briefed," said Mr Ahern, who travelled later to Capitol Hill for the annual lunch hosted by the speaker of the House of Representatives, Denis Hastert.
The McCartney sisters and Mr McCartney's partner, Bridgeen Hagans, were among 100 guests invited to the White House for a St Patrick Day's reception.
Mr Bush also received Mrs Anne McCabe, the widow of Det Garda Jerry McCabe, killed by an IRA gang in Adare, Co Limerick.
Speaking after the event, the Taoiseach said President Bush had "stated that the American administration would do all that they can do.
"He said he was glad they were here, that he was able to show solidarity and support for them.
"He told them that the bravery they had shown would help, not only to bring justice in their case but also show why we must end those things for the future," said Mr Ahern.
He called on Sinn Féin and the IRA to do everything possible "before Easter" to ensure that Mr McCartney's killers, who are leading members of the IRA in Belfast, can be prosecuted.
Describing the McCartney killing as "a world issue", Mr Ahern said a prosecution would show that "we are actually moving on at least phase one of a democratic peace.
"I can do nothing about that, however. That would be a first step, and then we could re-engage. I have said that we will meet Sinn Féin after Easter, but I have said that we would like to see progress on the issue this side of Easter," he said. Emphasising that President Bush and leading Irish-American political figures want to see an end to the IRA immediately, Mr Ahern acknowledged that patience in Washington is wearing thin.
"I could go around the house on that question, but that is the question that keeps facing me here," he said. "My own speech to the American Ireland Fund reflected what everyone is saying.
"I really think people feel that it is time to bring this to a conclusion. There are doubts in everybody's minds. The president did not have to spell it out, but it is in everybody's mind about whether people are actually going to deliver or not. I believe that they can. I hope that they will.
"We are prepared to work on an inclusive basis but, yes, there are doubts."
He explained that he had met the Sinn Féin leader, Gerry Adams, on Wednesday night in advance of the White House engagement in order to offer the president his "most honest assessment" of the crisis facing the peace process.
"Gerry Adams says he agrees that the full implementation of the Good Friday agreement is a shared value, and that he is prepared to work for that," Mr Ahern said. Every leading figure in Washington wanted to "see if we are going to get action".
The Taoiseach declared: "If we don't, let's be frank about it, the icy reception of this week will turn into total exclusion, which is the opposite of what I want to achieve.
"If we don't see action I am not too sure that I want to be around here next year," he commented, during a press conference on the White House grounds.
"The outstanding issues are absolutely crystal clear. Are they going to be delivered on to bring us to a conclusion?
"Let's be fair about this, there are responsibilities for everybody. If these things happen will the unionist community embrace what we are trying to achieve? Let's be aware that that issue is there as well."
Irish-American leaders and President Bush had been very clear that they wanted to see the full implementation of the agreement.
"I don't think they want to see us back here again saying that we have a few items outstanding.
"If people are committed to the Good Friday agreement, go out and implement it. Don't keep saying that you are committed to it, and not implementing it.
"Bring this an end and move on. That is what people are saying here very strongly."
