Ferris defends photograph with convicted killers
A Sinn Féin politician today rejected claims he and his colleagues had breached prison rules by appearing in a photograph with the convicted killers of an Irish detective.
Martin Ferris said the photograph of himself and three other members of the Dáil standing with the men jailed for the manslaughter of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe was only intended for publication in a republican newspaper.
The TDs were accused of “touting” themselves as supporters of the men after the picture was printed in a Sunday newspaper.
Mr Ferris said: “The purpose of the visit was to update them (the prisoners) on the peace process, particularly in relation to where the talks situation is at at this point in time.
“This photograph appeared in An Phoblacht two weeks ago, along with a report on the meeting and so forth.
“An Phoblacht is a republican newspaper bought and read by republicans and that was the purpose of the photograph appearing there.”
He said he had no control over where else it was published, and said he did not believe it was breaching prison rules.
“I think practically everybody that visits prisoners – loved ones, family members and so forth – have their photographs taken.”
He said he had the “utmost sympathy” for Mr McCabe’s widow and family, and that efforts had been made to try to lessen any hurt they had suffered.
Sinn Fein TDs Martin Ferris, Sean Crowe, Aengus O Snodaigh and Caoimhghin O Caolain were pictured during a recent trip to Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon.
They were shown standing next to Pearse McCauley, Michael O’Neill, Kevin Walsh and Jeremiah Sheehy, who were all jailed for the manslaughter of Mr McCabe, receiving sentences ranging from 11 to 14 years.
Progressive Democrats Senator John Minihan said he was shocked at the photograph.
He said: “I think it is another example of the a-la-carte version of democracy that Sinn Féin portrays to the Irish people.
“The reality of the situation is that these people were convicted of the killings of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe.
“For members of the Dáil to be touting themselves as supporters and sympathisers of convicted killers to me is an affront to the majority of the Irish people and to our democratic system.”
He said no consideration had been given to the family of Mr McCabe.
“Sinn Féin can’t have it both ways. Straight after the killing of Jerry McCabe, Sinn Fein and the IRA said they had absolutely nothing to do with this. It wasn’t an authorised operation on their behalf.
“As soon as the people were found and charged then Sinn Féin suddenly came in and said that these people came under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.”
Mr Minihan said that by having their photographs taken with the prisoners the TDs were breaching prison rules, and said he was calling on the prison authorities to launch an investigation.
He said people had a right to visit prisoners but added that it was wrong to turn the trip into a “propaganda coup“.
Mr McCabe, 52, a father-of-five, was shot dead during the attempted robbery of a post office van in Adare, and his colleague, Detective Ben O’Sullivan, was seriously injured.
In 1999 McCauley, O’Neill, Walsh and Sheehy were all jailed for manslaughter.
Despite a campaign by Sinn Féin for their release under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement the move has been resisted by the Government.
McCauley drew great media attention in 1991 when he and fellow IRA man Nessan Quinlivan, from Limerick, escaped from Brixton prison.
