Ferris condemned for meeting McCabe killers
SINN Fein can never be regarded as a legitimate democratic party as long as senior figures continue to "show solidarity" with convicted criminals, according to former Minister for Justice Michael Noonan.
The Fine Gael TD was reacting to Deputy Martin Ferris' decision to greet two of the killers of Det Garda Jerry McCabe – Kevin Walsh and Pearse McCauley – upon their release from Castlerea Prison this week.
Deputy Noonan said the North Kerry TD – who himself spent 10 years behind bars in connection with a gun-running operation for the IRA – was a personal acquaintance of the gang members prior to the killing in Adare in 1996 and maintained that relationship throughout their imprisonment.
"He was close personally to the killers of Jerry McCabe prior to 1996 and for many years, Sinn Fein and Martin Ferris were campaigning for their early release under the Good Friday Agreement. Gerry Adams was among a number of Sinn Fein members to visit them in prison and pose for photographs and so on," Deputy Noonan said.
"So I was not surprised (to see Deputy Ferris outside the prison). I would condemn it. I believe that the political parties should be supporting An Garda Siochana rather than showing solidarity with people who murdered a member of the force. Sinn Fein must show a complete break from violence if they want to be seen as a relevant constitutional democratic party in the Republic of Ireland. They have failed to do so, which goes to explain why they had a poor local election and a very poor general election before that," he said.
Garda Paul Browne, Limerick spokesman for the Garda Representative Association, said, "As far as we are concerned, whatever Martin Ferris decides to do is a matter for Martin Ferris."
But Garda Browne, who was a personal friend and colleague of Jerry McCabe's, added, "In relation to meeting them at the gates of the prison, all I can say is the public are well able to read between the lines.
"They have served their time now and are free to go and rebuild their lives, something Jerry McCabe will never be able to do. For colleagues of Jerry and Ben (O'Sullivan) in Limerick, this week has brought back to mind what happened in Adare that day in June 1996, how a colleague could be murdered in such a fashion and the atrocious injuries suffered by Ben that day."
The case is not closed in relation to two members of the IRA believed to have been in Adare that day and who are now thought to be in Spain and in South America.
"We would hope at some stage that they would be apprehended and brought before the courts so that justice can take its course. We would be extremely anxious that that happens," Garda Browne told the Limerick Leader.
Pearse McCauley, 44, from Strabane and Kevin Walsh, 52, from Patrickswell were the last of the gang members convicted of the manslaughter of Det Garda McCabe to be released from prison.
Both men wore shirts and ties as they left the prison and made no comment to waiting reporters.
However, in a statement published on the Sinn Fein website following their release Sinn Fin President Gerry Adams said: "I deeply regret the great loss and hurt suffered by the McCabe and O'Sullivan families.
"The release of Kevin Walsh and Pearse McCauley comes at the end of their sentences, despite them being qualifying as IRA prisoners under the Good Friday Agreement."
Det Garda McCabe was providing an armed escort for an SDS cash delivery van with his colleague Det Garda Ben O'Sullivan when they were ambushed by a gang linked to the Provisional IRA.
Det Garda McCabe was shot three times as he sat in his unmarked Garda car and Det Garda O'Sullivan sustained serious injuries when he was hit by bullets and shrapnel. Four men were subsequently convicted in relating to the shooting including McAuley and Walsh. They were both jailed for 14 years in 1999 for manslaughter but secured remission of three-and-a-half years. Jeremiah Sheehy was released in 2008, while Michael O'Neill, who was also convicted of manslaughter, left prison in 2007.
Last week the family of Det Garda Jerry McCabe said the completion of the sentences of those jailed for their part in his killing will bring them some closure and consolation.
The statement read. "Although there are outstanding matters from the events in Adare of June 7, 1996, for the McCabe family, the completion of the sentences brings closure and consolation that the rule of law at least has been served."
There had been speculation in advance of the men's release that Pearse McCauley would be re-arrested in connection with his escape from Brixton Prison with Limerick republican Nessan Quinlivan in 1991, when the pair shot their way out of the jail. They had been awaiting trial on a number of charges, including conspiracy to murder former brewing magnate, Sir Charles Tidbury.
But the UK's Crown Prosecution Service confirmed this Wednesday it would not now be seeking the extradition of Pearse McCauley.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Weather for Limerick
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 13 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
