McCabe family has ‘no interest’ in killer’s release
The Irish Examiner yesterday revealed that Michael O’Neill is scheduled for release on May 17, having served just eight years of his 11-year sentence.
But a spokesman for the McCabe family said yesterday they had no issue with O’Neill’s early release, and that their focus would be elsewhere on the day.
“We’ve no more interest in Michael O’Neill,” Pat Kearney, brother-in-law of the slain detective, said.
“Mrs McCabe will be attending the Holy Communion of her grandson on May 17, so it will be a day of celebration for her and for the McCabe family. Therefore, this release will be the furthest thing from her mind and from all our minds on that day.”
O’Neill, from Patrickswell, Co Limerick, was one of four IRA members jailed in February 1999 for the manslaughter of Det Garda McCabe and the malicious wounding of his colleague, Det Garda Ben O’Sullivan.
Like most prisoners, O’Neill is legally entitled to remission of one-quarter of his sentence dependent on good behaviour in prison.
He is slated for release on May 17, provided he does not come to the attention of the prison authorities between now and then.
That could cause a headache for the Government, given that the election is scheduled for around then and the release of the McCabe killers has been a hugely sensitive political issue.
However, Mr Kearney, an auctioneer in Limerick, said the McCabe family regarded O’Neill’s release as being in line with standard procedure.
“Michael O’Neill’s early release with remission is part of the system and there is nothing we can do about it,” he said.
“What happens to Michael O’Neill is no longer part of our lives and we have no interest in Michael O’Neill as such,” he added, “Ann McCabe made her stand and her views known to the Government, over the past number of years, that she wanted them to serve their full legal sentences.”
Another of the convicted killers, Jeremiah Sheehy, will be eligible for release with remission in February next year.
The remaining two, Pearse McCauley and Kevin Walsh, will be eligible for release with remission in August 2009.
Mr Kearney said the family was satisfied the Government would keep its word and not release the three prematurely as qualifying political prisoners under the Good Friday Agreement, as has been demanded by Sinn Féin.
“The family trust that the Government will honour their word and their commitment to us and to the people of Ireland that these people will serve their full terms,” he said.
He pointed out, however, that the Government had been on the brink of releasing all four several years ago, until Mrs McCabe made a public stand on the matter.
“I must say the people of Ireland rallied around Ann McCabe in huge numbers. It was very reassuring for Ann and the family, that the decent, honest people of Ireland were supporting her in her stand.”
He said Ms McCabe now has given the matter closure in her life.
“She is moving on with her life and her family are doing exceptionally well in their own lives and things have settled down for her,” he said.
Two suspected members of the gang involved in the IRA attack, Paul Damery from Cobh, Co Cork, and Gerry Roche, from Shannon, fled the country after the killing of Det Garda McCabe and are still on the run.
Mr Kearney appealed to the authorities not to let up in the search to bring them to justice.
Ann McCabe flies out to New York next week for the annual McCabe Fellowship ceremony on March 16.
The fellowship was set up by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in honour of her husband, and it sponsors an exchange programme between students at the Garda College in Templemore and rookie police officers in New York.
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