The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, insisted that no deal had been done to ensure that Malcolm Macarthur was not tried for the murder of Offaly farmer Donal Dunne in 1982.
His comments were made during a visit to Mr Dunne's home town of Edenderry, Co Offaly yesterday.
It was alleged at the time that a person answered an ad for a shotgun for sale. Posing as a potential buyer, he took the weapon in his hand and then shot Mr Dunne with his own shotgun.
Speaking outside a Youth Diversion Centre yesterday, Mr McDowell said that "no deal was done, it was just simply a matter, from my recollection, of the evidence that was available at the time".
As Mr McDowell was on the legal team representing Malcolm Macarthur during his trial for the murder of nurse, Bridie Gargan, in 1982, he was restricted in what he could say about the case.
"There's very little that I can say in relation to that because as you may or may not know, I was a barrister for the accused in that case," he commented.
Although it was no longer under press scrutiny, the issue was not over for Mr McDowell, however.
While visiting St Mary's secondary school in Edenderry, sixth-year student Siobhán Hurley again raised the issue.
She pointed out the fact that the murder had taken place a mile away from the school and asked the Tánaiste why no trial had occurred.
Reiterating the fact that he had been on the legal team representing Macarthur, Mr McDowell again said that he was restricted in what he could say.
He did however sympathise with the family of Mr Dunne for what he described as an "unhappy conclusion" of the case.