Ahern admits U-turn on release of McCabe killers
Speaking at the launch of the Fianna Fáil local election manifesto, Mr Ahern acknowledged for the first time that an end to IRA paramilitarism would, among other things, be contingent on the release of the McCabe killers.
"It is clear that the Sinn Féin leadership will not be able to persuade the IRA leadership on that issue until we come to a conclusion on a range of issues ... One of those outstanding issues is the remaining prisoners," he said.
Yesterday's comments are in stark contrast to numerous promises and Dáil statements made by Mr Ahern since 1999 and also contradict commitments made in a letter to the McCabe family by then Justice Minister John O'Donoghue.
The 1999 letter, obtained by the Irish Examiner, exposes the Government's U-turn on the release of Det McCabe's killers.
But when asked yesterday whether such a letter was ever sent, Mr Ahern said he could not remember. "I can't recall to be honest," he told reporters.
The letter, which followed a meeting with Ann McCabe about the transfer of her husband's killers, reassured the family that there was no question of early release, either under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement or on any other basis.
"I want to reassure you now, formally and in writing, that the Government's position right from the beginning, was that the men concerned are not covered by the terms of the Good Friday Agreement ... They will serve their time in Castlerea just as they would have in Portlaoise," the letter reads.
A spokesman for Mr O'Donoghue, in China on State business, declined to comment last night.
Asked yesterday when he changed his mind about the issue, Mr Ahern said: "It's not a question of changing our mind. It is this that the reality of the situation is we are not going to get an end, a sign-off to provisional paramilitarism without having to deal with this issue."
Those comments were immediately greeted with disapproval from Garda organisations, the McCabe family and Fine Gael.
McCabe family friend and Garda Representative Association (GRA) executive member Paul Brown said Mrs McCabe was very upset and disappointed at the Government's change of mind. "All she wants to do is try to get on with her life but she wants to see justice done as well," he said.
In advance of a special GRA meeting to discuss the issue with Justice Minister Michael McDowell tomorrow, Mr Brown said gardaí were also very angry.
"The decision was a Cabinet decision. It's collective responsibility that letter was really emanating from the Cabinet. We are very incensed that the Government could have gone and done this on foot of what was in that letter," he said.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the Taoiseach could no longer be believed. "He says one thing in public and then makes secret arrangements with the Provisional IRA," he said.
