Minister challenged over Garda killers

The Justice Minister was asked today to confirm or deny claims that the Government was prepared to release the IRA killers of a garda as part of a peace process deal with Sinn Féin.

Jim O’Keeffe, the justice spokesman of Fine Gael, issued the challenge to Michael McDowell after it was claimed that had last October’s failed peace process deal succeeded, the killers of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe would have been released.

Detective McCabe was killed and a colleague was wounded during an attempted robbery in Adare, Co Limerick, in June 1996.

Four men were jailed for his manslaughter but republicans have been pressing for their release under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

Sources claimed the Government agreed to free the four prisoners as part of last October’s deal to restore the Stormont Assembly.

But the choreographed deal faltered when Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble raised concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the IRA’s third act of weapons decommissioning.

Mr O’Keeffe said today he was concerned by the latest claims.

“Fine Gael demands an immediate explanation from the Minister for Justice regarding these reports that the murderers of Jerry McCabe were to be released as part of a range of measures to re-establish the Northern Assembly,” the Cork South West TD said.

The Department of Justice has not yet commented on the claims.

A Sinn Féin spokesman said the party did not comment on the content of negotiations.

“However our position on the Castlerea prisoners is clear,” he said.

“We believe they should have been released a long time ago under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.”