U-turn on garda killers not justified

There is almost a feeling of déjà vu in Taoiseach Bertie Ahern re-introducing the issue of the early release of the killers of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe as a factor in restoring the Northern peace process.

In the aftermath of the Northern Bank robbery and Mr Ahern's conviction that the IRA was responsible and Sinn Féin validated it, he withdrew the offer of early release to the killers.

As the Dáil began a two-day debate on republican involvement in criminal and paramilitary activity, prompted by a Fine Gael motion and supported by Labour and the Greens, he has now tentatively restored it.