Early release of McCabe killers must stay off Government agenda, says widow

THE widow of slain Detective Garda Jerry McCabe said yesterday she cannot see any circumstances in which the Government will grant early release to her husband’s IRA killers.

Anne McCabe was speaking following the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s comments on Tuesday that any possibility of an early release was now off the table and he could not see it up for discussion in future negotiations.

Mrs McCabe said she was amazed the IRA could demand that the Taoiseach grant early release for the killers of her husband.

“I can’t see any circumstances in which (early release) can be on the table ever again, these demands by Sinn Féin/IRA and Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness.

"Gerry Adams always says he was not in the IRA. The people who murdered my husband were IRA. Why does he demand their release if he is not a member of the IRA,” she said.

Mrs McCabe said she had no recent contact with the Government on the matter.

She said all decent people were opposed to an early release of the IRA gang members and this was borne out by the number of letters she had received.

“They were telling me to keep going and that these people should not be released,” she said.

Mrs McCabe said the convicted IRA gang members were never included in the Good Friday Agreement. It may have been spoken about at the time, she said, but certainly not signed up for when people voted on the Good Friday Agreement.

Mrs McCabe has received the full backing of the Garda Representative Association.

The GRA has warned the Government they will consider a major day of public protest if it persists with the issue of the early release of Det Garda McCabe.