DET Garda Jerry McCabe, who was shot dead in Adare, Co Limerick, on Friday, was "a fallen hero who gave his life in the service of his people and in the pursuit of peace," the Garda Representative Association has said.
"There is little doubt about the intentions of those who executed this terrible atrocity," the GRA central executive committee said.
"Obviously they came to Adare prepared, appropriately dressed in military attire, and armed to kill with professional savagery. There was no mercy.
Referring to the IRA denial of involvement, and Sinn Fein's refusal to condemn the killing, the statement went on:
"Anybody who has any knowledge of the IRA and their obscene legacy of death and destruction would be naive to expect any degree of honesty from either the IRA or Sinn Fein relative to this murder."
The GRA extended its condolences to Det Garda McCabe's family, friends and colleagues. It also expressed its best wishes to Det Garda Ben O'Sullivan, who was injured in the same incident.