McCabe controversy – Dilemma for Ahern over poll findings

Whatever tentative agreement the Government may have with Sinn Féin about releasing Detective Garda Jerry McCabe’s killers in return for a final settlement in Northern Ireland, it is unacceptable to almost three-quarters of the voters.

That will prove to be a major dilemma for Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, because it reflects public opinion as confirmed by an Irish Examiner/Prime Time poll conducted by Lansdowne Market Research.

The poll, in conjunction with another published yesterday, was conducted in the South European Constituency, or the old Munster one, where the McCabe family live.

Crucially, Fianna Fáil Euro candidate Gerry Collins is in a precarious position there already, and the depth of public feeling on this issue will work to his disadvantage.

The Government cannot ignore the fact that 73% of those polled are adamant that the killers should not be released, even if the quid pro quo included a full cessation of paramilitary activities.

It is a considerable measure of public outrage that bartering the release of four garda killers, even for a settlement in Northern Ireland, will not be entertained.

Even if the small 10% who were unable to make up their minds on the question were to defect to the 17% in favour of the release, the Government would still face overwhelming opposition to any attempt to renege on a written, unequivocal assurance to Ann McCabe that her husband’s killers would serve their full sentences.

But the Government’s lack of resolve to honour that commitment was exposed last week when Mr Ahern admitted that he was prepared to release the killers and that he was prepared to do so as far back as last October as part of negotiations to restore the Northern Assembly.

On the other controversial issue confronting him, that of Judge Brian Curtin, public opinion, as expressed in the poll, supports moves by Mr Ahern to remove him from the bench by the process of impeachment, which is hardly surprising.

According to the Irish Examiner/Prime Time poll, 87% of voters support his impeachment, while a tiny 4% thought the judge, who is implicated in an ongoing child pornography scandal, should remain.

What was surprising, and unexpected, was a certain ambivalence the poll revealed towards Pat Cox, who is not standing for election as he bids to be Ireland’s next EU Commissioner.

Almost half of all voters were either undecided or against Mr Ahern nominating him for the job as Ireland’s next EU Commissioner.

However, with a majority of 52% in his favour, and 35% still undecided, it would appear that all he needs is the nod from Mr Ahern.