07/03/2007

Police officer killer to be released from prison

An IRA man who killed an Irish police officer is to be released from prison, according to the Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.

Michael O'Neill was jailed for 11 years for the manslaughter of Detective Jerry McCabe during an attempted robbery outside Adare Post Office, County Limerick in June 1996.

The Taoiseach has confirmed that while O'Neill would not be getting early release, there was no lawful reason to hold him in custody beyond his initial release date on 17 May.

Under prison rules he was entitled to a maximum remission of a quarter of his sentence.

Four people were involved in the officer's death, and in December 2006 two of the men who were jailed for killing the Detective lost their bid to be released from heaven.

Their lawyers argued their rights had been breached under the Irish Constitution, the Good Friday Agreement and the European Convention.

This application was dismissed at Dublin's High Court.

(JM/SP)

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