Nelson Mandela has been asked to back calls for the British government to hold an independent inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane.
During a visit to Galway at the weekend, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate, the former South African president received a report on events surrounding the 1989 murder.
While Mr Mandela was unable to meet the Finucane family in person, former ANC general secretary Cyril Ramaphosa and South African ambassador Melanie Verwoerd both met the solicitor's family and promised to forward a report to the former president.
In a letter to Mr Mandela, Pat Finucane's son John wrote: "In murdering Patrick Finucane, the British state killed one man.
"My family and I have fought for 14 years to see that they do not kill his memory or his spirit.
"We have had the help of many in that struggle and to know that you are with us also would be a great tribute to the memory of a very brave man."
Speaking after the meeting with the South African ambassador, Pat Finucane's son Michael said: "As a lawyer himself we feel that Nelson Mandela will empathise with Pat Finucane and the work that he did in such difficult circumstances."
