Ahern denies Adams claim on McCabe killers

Bertie Ahern yesterday emphatically denied he gave undertaking during the Good Friday Agreement negotiations the men convicted in connection with the murder of Det Garda Jerry McCabe would qualify for early release.

The claim was made by Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams yesterday, who said that in private discussions with the Taoiseach during the 1998 negotiations, Mr Ahern had left him with the clear understanding that all IRA prisoners, including the four men convicted for the manslaughter of Mr McCabe, would qualify for release under the terms of the Agreement (GFA).

Mr Adams assertion, made at a Sinn Féin election launch, was strongly disputed by Mr Ahern in the Dáil later in the day.