Gardaí demand answers on McCabe killers

ANGRY garda colleagues of slain Detective Jerry McCabe will today demand an explanation from the Government as to why his killers could be set free despite repeated promises to the contrary.

As the political storm over the controversial deal to release the killers continues, the Garda Representative Association (GRA) will today meet with Justice Minister Michael McDowell to ask why Government assurances that those responsible will not be released have been broken.

Yesterday, the Irish Examiner published details of cast-iron guarantees that no early release would be considered, which were contained in a letter sent to Mrs McCabe five years ago by then Justice Minister John O’Donoghue.

Last night, GRA executive member and close friend of the McCabe family, Paul Browne, said that in addition to those commitments, the GRA had also received Government assurances that the prisoners would serve their full sentence. “We’ll be looking for the same assurances we were given to be kept.” He said Detective McCabe’s widow, Anne, was absolutely devastated at the prospect of a deal involving the release of her husband’s killers.

A statement released last night on behalf of the McCabe family said the family continued to trust the Government’s promises. “The undertakings given by Government were sealed with the lifeblood of a guardian of the law cruelly slain in the performance of his duties on behalf of the civil power,” the statement said.

Mrs McCabe’s sister, Ann Heaton, yesterday also pleaded with the Government.

“Please think before you act. Are you mad making these rules and then suddenly changing them to suit politicians,” she said.

During leaders’ questions in the Dáil yesterday Taoiseach Bertie Ahern again stressed that the release of the killers would only be considered in the context of an overall peace deal in Northern Ireland.

“If we ever want an end to the IRA, which is what I want, we will have to be brave and take some pain to get some gain,” he said.

Asked last night whether the McCabe killers would be free today if everything had gone to plan during October’s peace negotiations, Gerry Adams said: “absolutely. All of these matters would I think have been resolved. The issue of the release was part of that sequence of agreed actions and commitments.”

Opposition leaders yesterday seized on John O’Donoghue’s letter and accused Mr Ahern of betraying the Irish people and the McCabe family.