Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has apologised to the family of a Dundalk man over the State's response to his murder nearly thirty years ago.
Sawmill worker Seamus Ludlow (47), was shot dead by loyalists on May 2nd, 1976, as he went home from a night out.
The Barron Report found that the gardaí failed to follow up on subsequent information from the Royal Ulster Constabulary that four named loyalists were responsible for the murder.
Mr Ludlow's family have repeatedly call for a public inquiry into the circumstances of the murder. They also claimed they were badly treated by the gardai. His brother Kevin said gardaí had implied that the murdered man was an informer for the IRA.
The Oireachtas sub-committee on Justice, which is examining the report by Mr Justice Barron, was told by the minister today that they would have to consider whether it was appropriate to set up the public inquiry.
"There are serious constitutional issues directed at whether someone did or did not commit a crime, five, ten or 30 years later." Mr McDowell said.
"It still doesn't follow that it would be lawful for the state to set up an inquiry, in effect to mimic a criminal trial."
Mr McDowell apologised to the Ludlow family, who were present at the hearing, for the inadequate State response.
"On the basis of the findings of the Barron report, the Ludlow family undoubtedly has a sound basis for feeling aggrieved at a number of events surrounding the murder, including events relating to the interview of suspects and the original coroner's inquest," he said.