The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has criticised the Government's treatment of Mrs Anne McCabe, the widow of Det Garda Jerry McCabe.
The AGSI president, Mr Joe Dirwan, said that in the light of speculation on the possible early release of her husband's killers, the Government's failure to keep Mrs McCabe informed was causing her distress.
Delegations from the AGSI and the Garda Representative Association met separately in Dublin yesterday with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell.
The associations outlined their concerns about the possible early release of four men still serving sentences for the 1996 botched armed robbery in Adare, Co Limerick, which claimed the life of Det Garda McCabe.
After the meetings at Government Buildings, Mr Dirwan said he had reiterated his association's "implacable" opposition to the release of the killers "in any circumstances".
"We had a frank discussion with the Minister about speculation about the possible release of these people as part of an overall settlement of the Northern Ireland situation," he said.
"We repeated our strong conviction that they should not be released under any circumstances.
"We also told him that we deplored the stress and pain being caused to Mrs Anne McCabe by the regular raising of this issue without any apparent consultation with her."
The Taoiseach said that, without dealing with the issue of an early release for the men, efforts to restore power-sharing in the North would have halted. The issue of IRA decommissioning would not have been advanced, and Sinn Féin would have refused to negotiate on issues such as policing.
"We weren't going to make any progress," he added.
After its talks with Mr Ahern and Mr McDowell, the GRA said it had once again outlined its opposition to any early release and amnesty for others wanted in connection with Det Garda McCabe's "slaying".
"The Taoiseach and the Minister have accepted our position on the matter," said GRA representative Mr Paul Browne.
"The Taoiseach was informed that, regardless of the conditions being met, the GRA's position would not change on the matter."
According to the GRA, the Taoiseach reiterated his assertion that, on several conditions being met, the question of the release of Det Garda McCabe's killers would "arise at some time in the future, but that the GRA would be notified of this and their views on the matter would be brought into the appropriate forum".
Both the AGSI and GRA have been angered at statements by the Taoiseach indicating that the men would be released in the event of a final settlement in the North, despite assurances given to Mrs McCabe in 1999 by the the minister for justice at the time, Mr John O'Donoghue, that the men would not be released early under any circumstances.
Mr O'Donoghue refused to be drawn on the issue yesterday.