McCabe widow 'trusts' government pledges

The McCabe family have issued a statement saying that they trust the pledges given by the Irish government in relation to the early releases of four men convicted of killing the Garda Detective.

Yesterday, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern told the Dáil that the release of the killers of Garda Detective Jerry McCabe would only be considered on the end of all paramilitary activity - a position that was confirmed today in a radio interview by Deputy Prime Minister Mary Harney.

A statement today on behalf of Detective McCabe's widow Ann said: "The sole consolation for the pain, anguish and bottomless sense of loss which has been constantly revisited on the McCabe family by the repeated resurrection of the murder in Adare of a husband, father and guardian of the law is the solemn undertaking given by most senior figures in government.

"Because of its trust in the integrity of the pledges formally given by government that the rulings of the recognised lawful courts of the land would be complied with, the McCabe family refrains from and continues to refrain from all comment and statements other than its trust that the pledges made by government will be honoured.

"As the undertakings given by government were sealed with the lifeblood of a guardian of the law, cruelly slain in the performance of his duties on behalf of the civil power, the position of the McCabe family is unchanged."

Earlier on Tuesday, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams, speaking in Dublin, said that the release of the men being held in Castlerea prison in Co Roscommon had been part of the sequence of "statements and actions" agreed last October.

Noting this was halted by UUP leader David Trimble, Mr Adams said: "The focus of the Sinn Féin leadership since then has been to get the process working again. I am confident that that is An Taoiseach's aim also and we are working very closely to achieve this. This is an endeavour which should be supported by everyone who wants to make conflict a thing of the past, including opposition parties.

Mr Adams added: "I am very mindful that the release of the Castlerea prisoners is a sensitive issue and I am especially mindful of the plight of the McCabe family and Mrs McCabe but you asked me if the release of prisoners was part of this agreed sequence. The answer is yes."

However, government opposition parties Fine Gael and Labour have criticised any proposal for early release as part of a deal with the IRA. Gerry Collins the Fianna Fáil MEP for Munster was reported as saying he believed that the men should serve their full terms in prison.

Four men were convicted of the manslaughter of the Garda Detective, who was shot and killed during a foiled post office robbery attempt in the Co Limerick town of Adare in 1996.

A second Garda officer was injured during the robbery, which was later admitted to have been carried out by individuals acting without orders from the IRA.

(SP)