Pressure on Govt to clarify McCabe killers plan

Opposition parties have reiterated calls on the Government to clarify its position on the killers of Detective Garda McCabe.

Opposition parties have reiterated calls on the Government to clarify its position on the killers of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe.

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent called for a statement to be made to the Dáil and said the early release of the IRA gang raised questions about the legality of such a move.

“The Taoiseach needs to quickly clarify the thinking and evaluation, if any, behind this report as to how this is expected to help in restoring the North’s institutions,” the Dublin North TD said.

“I am calling for a statement from the Taoiseach on this matter when the Dáil sits next on Tuesday.”

Labour Justice spokesman Joe Costello said if the Government contemplated releasing the gang early it was in direct conflict with the assurances it had given to the McCabe family.

The Dublin Central TD said: “If the Government were contemplating such a major change of policy, the Dáil should have been told about it.”

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny was also concerned.

In Northern Ireland, there was criticism too of the plan.

Democratic Unionist deputy leader Peter Robinson said he was “deeply disturbed” that the killers of Detective Garda McCabe could have been freed as a result of a peace process deal involving the two governments, Sinn Féin, the IRA and Ulster Unionists.

David Trimble said he knew nothing about the plan but it proved he was right to stop the choreography of last October’s deal.