Court reserves judgement on appeal against McCabe sentences

The Court of Criminal Appeal has reserved until autumn its decision on a State appeal to increase the sentences handed to two of the killers of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe.

The State wants the 14-year terms of Pearse McAuley of Strabane, Co Tyrone, and Kevin Walsh of Lisheen Park, Patrickswell, Co Limerick, to be extended to life sentences.

State counsel Edward Common told the court today that 14 years was 'unduly lenient'.

He said it did not match the offence, which was 'the death of a Garda during a well-planned criminal act'.

He added that previous convictions of the two for firearms offences must also be taken into account.

However, Mr Common did concede that of the four raiders involved, it was impossible to identify the gunman who shot Det McCabe.

Paddy McEntee SC, counsel for McAuley, said the fact that the DPP had accepted his client's manslaughter plea meant that he accepted they did not intend to kill Det McCabe.