IRA men apologise for McCabe death

The men convicted of killing Detective Garda Jerry McCabe during a failed robbery in 1996 tonight said they “deeply regretted” his death.

The four men – Kevin Walsh, Pearse McAuley, Jeremiah Sheehy and Michael O’Neill – who are serving between 11 and 14 years for the manslaughter of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe, said: “We deeply regret the death of Garda Jerry McCabe and the wounding of Garda Ben O’Sullivan during an IRA operation in Adare in June 1996.

“We deeply regret and apologise for this and the hurt and grief we have caused to their families. There was never any intent to attack any members of the Garda Siochana.”

The men also insisted the Government had an obligation to release them from prison.

They said they should qualify for early release under the Good Friday Agreement and claimed this had been confirmed by the High Court and the Supreme Court.

In a statement, the men said: “The Irish Government have an obligation to release us. They have refused to do so and are now presenting our release as an obstacle to negotiations and an agreement.

“For this reason we do not want our release to be part of any further negotiations with the Irish Government.”

The men said they were “totally committed to the peace process”.

However, they added: “We will not allow ourselves to be used as political pawns or hostages to undermine this process. The cause of lasting peace is too important.”

Ann McCabe, the detective’s widow, tonight said her husband’s killers should never qualify for early release. She also questioned the timing of the statement.