THE Tanaiste, Mr Spring, has said he will be voicing concern to the British government about the sectarian killing of a Catholic man in Portadown, Co Armagh,
Mr Robert Hamill (25) died 12 days after he was brutally beaten by a 30-strong loyalist gang.
Expressing his condemnation of the killing, the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, said: "The full circumstances must be established beyond doubt in a transparent way that will command the confidence of the entire community."
Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and the Labour TD, Mr Declan Bree, have called for an independent inquiry into the incident, but the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, said she would not initiate such an investigation until she had established the details from the RUC.
She described the attack as "an appalling act of sectarian bigotry" and said that the RUC was doing all it could to find the killers.
The RUC has strongly rejected allegations that it could have done more to stop the attack. It has appointed a detective chief superintendent to investigate the matter, under the auspices of the Independent Commission for Police Complaints.
The Pat Finucane Centre in Derry yesterday highlighted how an initial police statement described the incident as a "clash between rival gangs" whereas the RUC now admitted that four people were set upon by a large crowd.
A police spokesman last night said it would be inappropriate to comment on the matter as it was under investigation. The assault took place in the early hours of April 27th. Mr Hamill died in hospital on Thursday from head injuries.
Extending his sympathy to the Hamill family, Mr Spring said that the circumstances surrounding the attack gave cause for "very serious concern".
The Tanaiste said that he had raised the issue with the British government through the Anglo-Irish Secretariat at the time of the attack and would be vigorously pursuing the matter.
The killing was condemned by the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, who said that such attacks had no part to play in a democratic society.
The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, called for the immediate suspension of the RUC officers who were at the scene of the attack on Mr Ham ill. However, he appealed for calm and urged nationalists to adopt "the utmost restraint and discipline".
Condemning the attack, the Catholic Primate, Archbishop Sean Brady, said: "All right-minded people will join with me in condemning this killing.
"I know that Mr Hamill's family is shocked, saddened and angry. The anger must be directed towards building a society where such a tragic event will not happen again, where no other family will have to go through the agony, pain and suffering which the Hamills have endured."