After eight years McCabe killers say sorry. Too late, says his widow

IT took an eternity to come - a full eight years and nine months after Detective Garda Jerry McCabe was shot dead as he sat in an unmarked patrol car, during an IRA armed robbery in Adare, Co Limerick.

Its timing was described as belated; its intentions as cyncial; its sentiment as “too little, too late”.

For, in reality, any prospect the four killers would benefit from early release under a final peace settlement evaporated completely once IRA involvement in the Northern Bank robbery became clear.

Yesterday, in a move many believe was motivated more by Sinn Féin’s current difficulties than by genuine remorse, the four killers finally issued an apology to the McCabe family.

They said they “deeply regretted” the death of the Limerick detective and the wounding of his colleague Garda Ben O’Sullivan during the botched raid on a post office van in June 1996. The four men, in a statement issued from Castlerea Prison, where they are being held, further said they did not want their release to form part of any negotiations.

“We deeply regret and apologise for this and the hurt and grief we have caused to their families,” they said. “There was never any intent to attack any members of the Garda Siochána,” they added.

The four men, Kevin Walsh, Jeremiah Sheehy, Michael O’Neill, all from Co Limerick, and Pearse McAuley, from Co Tyrone, are serving terms of between 11 and 14 years. The first is not due to be released until May 2007.

During negotiations, the Government had agreed to the early release of the IRA prisoners in the event of a final settlement. The commitment evoked widespread anger and was peremptorily withdrawn by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern after the Northern Bank Robbery.

The IRA, after initially denying any involvement, later accepted the four killers were members.

In the statement, the men said the Government had an obligation to release them.

“They have refused to do so and are now presenting our release as an obstacle to negotiations and an agreement.”

Saying they were “totally committed to the peace process”, they said they were not willing to be used as “political pawns”.

Ann McCabe, speaking from her home in Limerick last night, said she had not seen the statement.

“Whatever it is, it is too late. This statement is not worth anything. I’m not interested in what they have to say,” she said.

Another family member, Pat Kearney, said it was “very late in coming” and did not alleviate the loss of Det McCabe.

However, he added: “We are Christian people and an apology is always welcome.”

Sinn Féin’s Martin Ferris said he had spoken to the four men in Castlerea Prison on Saturday.

“I believe their apology to the McCabe and O’Sullivan families is genuine,” he said.

Mr Ahern’s spokesperson said last night that the apology was irrelevant given Mr Ahern’s assertion that the issue was off the table.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell said: “The Government has already made it clear that the release would not arise in future discussions.

“This belated statement simply recognises this reality.”

The Garda Representative Association said it was outraged at the suggestion that there “was never any intent to attack members of an Garda Síochána”.

“The evidence of the attack clearly indicated they made no attempt to spare the life of the garda officers, firing into their vehicle twice,” the statement read.