GRA urges SF to drop freedom bid for McCabe killers
Gardaí tonight demanded Sinn Féin abandon its campaign for the release of the killers of Detective Jerry McCabe, as they called for an urgent meeting with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) is to seek assurances that the four IRA members convicted of the 52-year-old detective’s manslaughter will serve their full prison sentences.
At a meeting of its Limerick branch, the GRA denied it was standing in the way of the peace process.
“The only way forward on this is for Sinn Féin to withdraw both their demand for the early release of those convicted of Jerry’s killing and equally the demand of an amnesty for those who had any part in it and are now in another jurisdiction,” said spokesman Paul Browne .
Mr McCabe was shot dead during a botched post office raid in Adare, Co Limerick, in November 1996 and four IRA members got jail terms ranging from 11 to 14 years. Another Garda was seriously injured in the attack.
The GRA has consistently maintained the IRA members should be not be released as part of any peace agreement.
“They are common criminals and should serve out the remainder of their sentencing and those on the run should be brought back and made to account for their actions in relation to the killing,” said Mr Browne
The controversy began last week when the Taoiseach said he would be recommending the four men be freed as part of a comprehensive settlement to secure IRA decommissioning.
It outraged Ann McCabe, the widow of the slain detective garda, who had been given an assurance by the Government that this would not happen.
Opinion polls have shown that a majority of Irish people are opposed to their release.
Minister for Justice Mr McDowell said today the release of the four men would only be considered if there was total end to paramilitarism, a total end to IRA criminality and a total decommissioning of all weapons.
However, the main opposition party said the Government should uphold the solemn commitment it gave to Mrs McCabe.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said: “These men were not so-called ’freedom fighters’. They were thugs, bank robbers, who murdered Jerry McCabe in cold blood.
“They were disowned by the Republican Movement at the time and their release is, and never was, part of the Good Friday Agreement.”
