The Irish government has confirmed it will respond directly to the GAA after the association called for a withheld report into the killing of Aidan McAnespie to be published.
The GAA's most senior official, director General , Páraic Duffy, wrote to justice minister Charlie Flanagan earlier this week calling for the Crowley Report to be made public.
Mr McAnespie (23) was shot as he crossed a British army checkpoint on his way to Aghaloo GAC's grounds near Aughnacloy in Co Tyrone in February 1988.
His shooting sparked anger on both sides of the border and prompted the Irish government to appoint Garda deputy commissioner Eugene Crowley to investigate the killing.
The results of the investigation were received by the then justice minister Gerry Collins in April 1988, but have never been published.
Former Tyrone All Ireland winner Peter Canavan last month urged the urged the GAA to put pressure on the Irish government to publish the report while ex-GAA president Peter Quinn called on the association to back any new investigation.
In a statement the Department for Justice in Dublin said it will respond directly to Mr Duffy.
The Minister is in receipt of correspondence from the Ard Stuirthoir of the GAA with regard to the case of Aiden McAnespie and will respond directly to Mr. O Dufaigh,” he said.
Manslaughter charges brought against the soldier who fired the shots, Grenadier Guardsman David Jonathan Holden, were later dropped.
He was later fined for negligent discharge of his weapon and allowed to return to duty before being given a medical discharge in 1990.
