THE report on Bloody Sunday prepared by the Government "shows very clearly that a grave injustice was done to the families concerned," according to the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton.
The report is almost completed, and is expected to be given to the British government in two weeks' time, after the election.
It has been compiled by Government officials and consists of a dossier of evidence which was not heard by the Widgery Tribunal, which investigated the 1972 killings.
Relatives of those killed on Bloody Sunday were briefed on the report yesterday by the Taoiseach, the Minister for Social Welfare and Government officials.
They also met the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, and the PD leader, Ms Mary Harney, who pledged to continue to press the British government on the issue if they are elected to government.
Mr Charlie McGuigan, whose father Barney was shot dead on Bloody Sunday, said yesterday he was "confident that the report dismantles and deconstructs Widgery and leaves a lot of questions to be answered." He said an apology from the British government would not be acceptable to the relatives.
They first want the Widgery report to be repudiated, he said.
"If the British government say they accept the new evidence, there is no need for a new inquiry. But if not, we would like a new, international and independent inquiry with judicial powers to establish what happened."
Speaking after his meeting with the relatives, Mr Bruton said the Government was determined that respect would be shown to the families of the victims.
"As long as respect has not been shown to the memory of the victims of Bloody Sunday, and the truth is not told about what was done to them, there isn't the possibility of beginning a healing process.
He thanked the relatives for their persistence in pursuing the issue "when few were listening".
Mr Ahern told the relatives that he had raised the issue a number of times with the new British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, when he was leader of the opposition. He was hopeful that he, and the new Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, would be more open to representations on the matter than their predecessors.