‘As sad a day since poor Jerry passed away’

Former detective Ben O’Sullivan, who survived the hail of IRA gunfire which claimed the life of his colleague, Detective Garda Jerry McCabe, yesterday revisited that black day, Jun 7, 1996.

Signing a book of condolence for Detective Garda Adrian Donohue at Henry St Garda Station in Limerick, the Scott Gold Medal hero remarked: “As sad a day I have spent since poor Jerry passed away.”

The book of condolence was placed in front of a bust of Det Gda McCabe which stands in the reception area.

Fighting back tears, the former detective, who comes from near Mallow, extended his sympathies to the Donohue family.

“Forgive me for being a small bit tear-jerked but there are more images happening here than I had foreseen,” he said.

“Sorry...When I came in the door with Jerry’s bust in front of me, with reporters around, it was history repeating itself really. My heart is very much with both families — the Donohoes and Joe Ryan’s [Det Gda Donohue’s colleague] family. I hope that he [Joe Ryan] will recover as good as I have. I am so delighted to have recovered as well as I did.

“I am far better than I expected to be and that’s the truth of it. But, it’s a tear-jerking exercise this morning... as sad as a day I have spent since poor Jerry passed away.

“No words would adequately condemn this barbaric crime because it is beyond the ability of any form of words to be able to condemn such an atrocity.

“I was hoping these dark days were over. But I suppose, in my case, time passed on, thank God it passed on for 17 years.

“I hope it might be finished for good. Let’s hope that this is the last one.

“My message to those that are the instigators of this is: please let the people of this country live. Let the Garda Síochána live. The Garda Síochána are protecting the people of this country and they should be allowed to continue doing it, in the marvellous way they have done since 1922.”

Ann McCabe, Det Gda McCabe’s widow, described yesterday’s events as “another sad day”.

“It’s a sad day, not just for me, but for the wider members of all the Garda Síochána. It is a sad day, and hopefully it will be the last book of condolence that we will be signing. It was poignant yes. I haven’t been in here very often. It was very poignant for me, and I’m sure for all of Jerry’s family that are here, and his colleagues as well.”

She repeated her call for all garda killers to get mandatory 40-year sentences and said: “Not this soft sentencing of 14 years and good behaviour.

“I don’t agree with good behaviour. What is good behaviour about mowing down a garda in the line of duty and almost killing another one? It might deter them and put them off from thinking about what they are doing. It might make them think twice... to put them away for life.

“What they are doing to the [Donohoe] family. I can only imagine how that family are feeling today — all his brothers and sisters and children, and extended family. I can just imagine.”