'Investigation still live' as Jerry McCabe remembered on 30th anniversary of his murder

Tánaiste and senior gardaí join Jerry McCabe's widow Ann McCabe for an anniversary Mass 30 years after garda was shot dead by an IRA gang in Adare

Jerry McCabe's widow Ann McCabe and Limerick Garda Division Chief Superintendent Derek Smart outside Holy Rosary Church in Limerick after the 30th anniversary Mass for Detective Garda Jerry McCabe. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

Detective Garda Jerry McCabe, who was shot dead by an IRA gang during a raid on the post office in Adare in 1996, has been remembered 30 years after his murder.

Tánaiste Simon Harris was among those who paid tribute to the father-of-five as a “dedicated servant of this State, who gave his life in the line of duty”, while he was also remembered at a Mass on Sunday.

A senior Garda officer said the investigation is still “very much live” and urged anyone with information to come forward. Speaking after Mass at Holy Rosary Church, Jerry McCabe’s widow Ann McCabe said: 

“It’s hard to believe it has been 30 years since Jerry was murdered. 

Grief is not just for now, it is forever. My life stood still on June 7. 

Mr McCabe had been on duty with his partner Detective Ben O’Sullivan on June 7, 1996 when the van they were escorting stopped at Adare.

The patrol car pulled up close by and as the van driver prepared to unload the mail, an IRA unit crashed a Jeep at full speed into the rear of the detectives’ unmarked patrol car.

Another vehicle arrived at the scene and its occupants opened fire on the Garda car, killing Mr McCabe and seriously wounding Mr O’Sullivan, who was shot around a dozen times but survived.

He died in 2022.

Four people were convicted of manslaughter in relation to the killing in 1999.

The scene of the shooting in Adare, Co Limerick on June 7, 1996, when Jerry McCabe was killed and Ben O’Sullivan seriously injured. The gunmen's jeep is behind the unmarked Garda car which is behind the An Post truck. Irish Examiner Archive Picture: Kieran Clancy

Mrs McCabe said they are “no longer part of my life”.

She said: “I have dealt with them. We fought a bit of a battle with them alright, and we shouldn’t have had to do that, but politics came into it sadly. But we won the battle, hard as it was to deal with, but we did it as best we could.” 

Mrs McCabe paid tribute to her “wonderful family, wonderful friends” as well as all members of An Garda Síochána and the victims group South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) for their support.

“Jerry loved his job, there was a lot of seriousness attached to it, but where there was Ben and Jerry, there was always laughter,” she added. 

“He was a peaceful man.” She said he had a sticker on the back of his patrol car on the day he was killed which said 'I’m for peace'.  

“Little did he know that he wouldn’t live to see the peace proceed the way it did,” she added.

Ben O’Sullivan remembered 

Chief Superintendent of the Limerick Division, Derek Smart, said the investigation into the killing continues.

He added: “We remember Ben O’Sullivan who was also in the car that day, they were carrying out their lawful duties when they were so brutally shot down, and just to confirm that this is very much a live investigation, there are people out there who we are still anxious to speak with.

“My appeal would be directly to them to come forward, anybody that may have any information with regard to what happened to Jerry and Ben on that day on June 7, please contact us, to any Garda station, our confidential number, reach out to us, give us that information and we will assist in bringing this matter to a close for Ann."

“I think the world is getting to be a smaller place, people are now being brought home to face their actions so I do believe that one day this matter will be brought to a close and the McCabe and the O’Sullivan families will get the answers that they need.” 

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South East Fermanagh Foundation director Kenny Donaldson was among those who attended the mass.

“The McCabe family is very much held in high esteem across our organisation as an example of a family with a dedication to service with regard to Jerry, and both his son and grandson to have served in An Garda Síochána,” he said.

“It’s important to be with them here today because terrorism knew no borders and it came right down into this community, and today we saw the love and respect with which the family is held.”

Originally from Co Kerry, Mr McCabe worked as a mechanic before joining An Garda Síochána in September 1964.

He was posthumously awarded the Scott Gold Medal in 2000.