No release for McCabe killers, says Ahern
Although the Government remains committed to an amnesty for the so-called 'on the run' paramilitaries under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, the McCabe killers have been completely separated from that process since last December.
Speaking at Government Buildings yesterday, Mr Ahern said he had already "made it clear that they will serve out their sentence and that equally that applies to those on the runs for that case".
Speaking to reporters in Leinster House yesterday, Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern also said there had been no change in the Government's commitment to deal with the on-the-runs "except the exclusion of any McCabe element and some changes in the timeline".
"McCabe is off the table in the context of the on-the-runs. There are no side deals in relation to this as far as we are concerned," he said.
Speaking at a garda graduation ceremony in Templemore yesterday, Justice Minister Michael McDowell also ruled out the release of the McCabe killers who before Christmas formed a central demand of Sinn Féin negotiations.
Asked if there would be any change of mind on the IRA gang members who were jailed for the McCabe killing, Mr McDowell said: "Not in the slightest. They will serve their complete sentence and there will be no change in that situation."
A spokesperson for Ann McCabe said: "We are greatly heartened by the minister's comments."
Reacting on behalf of the Garda Representative Association, PJ Stone said he was hopeful the McCabe issue had now been finalised.
"I'm hopeful at last that that is one issue we've put to bed unless people are speaking with desperate forked tongues.
"I'm happy that today our situation in regard to the McCabe killers is solid as it was when we got assurances from the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice at the last occasion," he said.
Asked about Sinn Féin's long-running campaign for Dáil representation for Northern nationalists, Dermot Ahern said the proposal was "predicated on all party agreement".
"The Taoiseach as leader of Fianna Fáil has agreed to encourage the other parties to allow that," he said.
Later the Taoiseach himself said he had already indicated his willingness to consult with other Dáil parties about Oireachtas speaking rights.
"I am preparing to consult with the other parties about that. There is no change in that," he said.
