Power denies threat to resign over killers’ release

LIMERICK Fianna Fáil TD Peter Power yesterday denied a newspaper report that he threatened to leave the party over the possible release of the IRA killers of Detective Garda Gerry McCabe when he met the Taoiseach privately to discuss the matter.

Mr Power said yesterday he merely outlined his concerns and those of Anne McCabe to Mr Ahern.

“That newspaper report is incorrect. I did not threaten to resign from the party. All I did was explain to the Taoiseach the concern that existed about the situation in Limerick. I also conveyed a message to the Taoiseach from Anne McCabe. I explained the depth of feeling. There was no discussion about me losing the party whip. It wasn’t discussed at all.”

Mr Power, who lives just yards from the slain garda’s widow, told Mr Ahern of the anger in the city triggered by threats that the four Castlerea prisoners would be released.

“Feelings are running very high about this because of the proximity of Anne McCabe to the people. She is a highly respected person in the community and the people are siding with her very strongly.”

IRA men Pearse McAuley, Jeremiah Sheehy, Kevin Walsh and Michael O’Neill are serving between 11 and 14 years for the manslaughter of the 52- year-old detective, gunned down in a botched post office van robbery in Adare in Co Limerick in June 1996.

Defence Minister Willie O’Dea also said he would not consider resigning from the Cabinet on the matter.

“What purpose would it serve? Would it achieve anything? Would it put those people back in prison?” he asked.

“Anne McCabe has told me that under no circumstances do she or her family want me resigning because it wouldn’t serve any purpose.”

Mr O’Dea attacked Fine Gael for using the issue for political gain. He said party leader Enda Kenny and former leader Michael Noonan should be ashamed of themselves.

“Enda Kenny is going round the country posing as the champion of the McCabe family but he has never spoken to the McCabe family, he has never even picked up the phone once and rang Anne McCabe or her family,” he told RTÉ radio.

Mr Kenny said Mr O’Dea was more concerned about the timing of the release of the information about the secret deal to release the McCabe killers than their release in the first place.