Govt torn on McCabe killers decision
Tanaiste Mary Harney said she was not convinced that these IRA killers should go free after former Justice Minister Des O’Malley accused the Government of appeasing terrorism and intimidating the widow of Det Garda McCabe.
Ms Harney said: “I would like to hear from Gerry Adams why he believes they should be released when he said in 1996 they had nothing to do with the IRA.”
But the Taoiseach was not “turning back” on his statement that he would recommend the release of Det Garda Jerry McCabe’s killers as part of a comprehensive deal on the North, a Government spokeswoman insisted yesterday.
The Tanaiste conceded she had told the told Limerick Leader she would not be part of any Government that would agree to the release of Detective McCabe’s killers.
Asked if she was prepared to go back on her solemn commitment to Mrs McCabe, the Tanaiste told RTÉ she was not preparing to do that.
“But we maybe within days of a settlement in the North and many people may have to do things they do not not like - including myself - but no one has convinced me that the IRA will lay down their arms,” Ms Harney told The Week in Politics.
The Tanaiste said she would only agree to Det Garda Jerry McCabes killers going free if there was an end to paramilitarism, if the IRA laid down their arms and there was an end to criminality.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, however, insisted that the killers of Det Garda Jerry McCabe did qualify for early release under the Good Friday Agreement.
He confirmed that it was a concession sought by Republicans in a recent discussion with the Taoiseach. “I am sorry for Mrs McCabe and I’m sorry her husband was killed - we have no argument with her,” Mr Adams added.
Meanwhile, the Garda representatives from the Limerick division are to meet today to discuss the Government’s controversial decision to recommend the release of Det Garda Jerry McCabe’s killers.
Deputy general secretary of the Garda Representative Association, John Healy, will attend the meeting in Adare, the village where the detective died in a hail of bullets eight years ago.
Mrs Ann McCabe insisted again yesterday that her husband’s killers were no more than “common criminals”.
She criticised the Government’s fresh offer of consultation with her family as “disingenuous”.
Ms McCabe said she did not want the Government’s sympathy but justice for her husband, his family and the Garda Siochána. She reiterated a firm “no” to the release of the four men, who are serving between 11 and 14 years for manslaughter.
“We are a very private family and it’s very unfair of the Taoiseach to land this on our laps at this time of the year, or any time of the year. Why this change in the Good Friday Agreement?” she asked, insisting the killers of her husband in 1996 was not part of the original peace deal.
Mrs McCabe said she met with Defence Minister Willie O’Dea over the weekend and it was most unfair that he was getting the brunt of the criticism of the Government’s decision in Limerick. “He offered to convey our feelings back to the Government, he is appalled by it all.”
Mr O’Dea is to convey the McCabe family’s concerns to the Cabinet tomorrow. The Limerick-based minister said he was in a terrible dilemma because he was friendly with the family. “It’s not just political this is personal,” he said.
