Gardaí demand explanation for McCabe killers release claim

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors have demanded an explanation from the Government over claims that that the IRA killers of garda Jerry McCabe were to be released from prison under the aborted peace deal that was supposed to restart the peace process last October.

“We are outraged that we have to learn from media reports that some sort of a ‘deal’ appears to have been done and that the killers of Jerry McCabe are to qualify for early release under the Good Friday Agreement,” AGSI president Joe Dirwan said.

“The way this has been handled is totally unfair and distressing to the members of Mr McCabe’s family and to all gardaí.”

Mr Dirwan said his organisation and other Garda representative bodies would be furious if the claims were proven accurate.

He warned: “Garda morale and confidence in the Government will be seriously damaged and this will seriously undermine our efforts to enforce law and order in this State.

“It was outrageous that people like the McCabe family and the Gardaí were being used as ‘bargaining chips’, he said.

“The silence to date of the Government is even more distressing. We have in the past had several unqualified statements from the previous Minister for Justice John O’Donoghue, the present Minister Michael McDowell and even from An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, that these prisoners would not qualify for release under the Good Friday Agreement.”

Bertie Ahern pledged on the day four men were sentenced prison for between 11 and 14 years in connection with the killing, that they would not qualify for an early release under the Agreement.

In February 1999, the Special Criminal Court handed down sentences ranging from 11 to 14 years to the four-man gang.

In September 2003, a row erupted over a visit by Sinn Féin TDs to the prisoners.

At the time, the widow of Detective Garda McCabe, Ann McCabe said she had been assured her husband’s killers would not be released early.

“I have it on full authority that they will do their time,” she said.

“We’ve had assurances from past and present governments that they will do their time.”

Unionists were outraged that the killers’ release was part of the peace deal.

David Trimble, leader of the Ulster Unionists, insisted he knew nothing of the plan. He said it proved he was right to back out of the process.

“How can you deal with people who do this?” Mr Trimble asked.

“You think you know what you are dealing with, but it turns round there’s some devious little plan going on in the corner.

“I feel rather annoyed with the government… and also republicans’ failure to be frank on this matter.”

But Peter Robinson, deputy leader of the rival DUP, claimed Mr Trimble must have known something.

The East Belfast MP said: “Despite Bertie Ahern’s previous protestations that the killers of garda Jerry McCabe would serve their full sentences, the insatiable demands of Sinn Féin/IRA would appear to have been fed again with the acquiescence of David Trimble.

“It’s time David Trimble came clean. What other dastardly deals did you do last October David, and how much worse is this deal going to get in terms of demilitarisation, on the run paramilitaries, policing, human rights and equality.”

One of Mr Trimble’s closest party colleagues, Fred Cobain, accused the Irish government of duplicity.

“This whole process is becoming totally corrupted,” he claimed.

“The Irish Government made it clear they wouldn’t be released. Bertie Ahern said that.

“But it seems there’s no bottom line and republicans can pressure the governments to get whatever they want.”