The family of murdered Dublin man Joseph Rafferty today dismissed an invitation to meet by Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams as a public relations stunt.
Mr Rafferty's two sisters believe republicans were involved in the death of the father-of-one outside his West Dublin apartment in April and claim Sinn Fein is protecting those responsible.
The case has been compared to that of murdered Belfast man Robert McCartney and both families met in the Short Strand area two weeks ago.
Sinn Fein claims criminals with no links to the party were responsible for the crime and Mr Adams today offered to meet the Rafferty family.
However sister Esther Uzell, who yesterday met Taoiseach Bertie Ahern on the issue, said she would only meet Mr Adams if he had straight answers to her questions. "It will have to be more than a PR stunt or a photo opportunity. I want hard answers to hard questions."
"I met with the McCartneys recently and he didn't do them any favours as they are still being intimidated in their homes and on the street." Mr Ahern said after meeting the Rafferty family yesterday that he would raise the issue with Mr Adams at their next meeting.
Speaking outside the Dáil today, Mr Adams again denied any republican links and claimed criminals were responsible. He offered to meet the Rafferty family to discuss their concerns. Ms Uzell and her sister Sarah Little are due to meet Fine Gael Seanad leader Brian Hayes at Leinster House today.
Mr Rafferty (29) died when he was shot twice in the upper body as he left his apartment at the Ongar Park housing estate in Blanchardstown last April.
The shooting is believed to have followed a minor dispute during a party in October 2004. The Rafferty family claim they have been the victims of IRA intimidation in their Hogan Place south inner-city neighbourhood.