The widow of Det Garda Jerry McCabe, who was shot dead by the IRA at Adare, Co Limerick in June 1996, has called on the Government to explain how those convicted for the killing have qualified for temporary release on "compassionate grounds".
Mrs Ann McCabe was speaking yesterday from her home in Limerick where she learned "over the past few days" that three of the people convicted of killing her husband had been released on this basis.
Kevin Walsh, Michael O'Neill and Jeremiah Sheehy were given temporary release from Castlerea Prison "on compassionate grounds" late last week.
The move came within days of the temporary release of Pearse McAuley, the fourth man convicted of manslaughter in the case, who was allowed out of prison to marry Sinn Féin councillor Ms Pauline Tully.
McAuley returned to prison a week ago yesterday, while the other three were due back in prison last night.
Mrs McCabe remarked: "How could they all be allowed out on compassionate grounds? I want the Government to explain what they mean by this. I understood that this would be in a case of a family illness or a death in a family. These people should serve out their full sentences as already agreed and we will be trying to hold the Government to their word."
She added: "The family would like to have a closure on the whole situation and let us get on with the rest of our lives."
Confirming the three latest temporary releases, a spokesman for the Prisons Service said its policy was not to comment on individual cases. However, he said, the conditions for release on "compassionate grounds" were laid down under the 1960 Criminal Justice Act.
One of the general aims of temporary release, he noted, was to help prisoners coming to the end of a sentence to recondition themselves to living in society. He said terms of temporary release normally lasted only up to four nights, and "in general" prisoners honoured these terms.
But Mr Michael Kirby, president of the Garda Representative Association, who is based at Shannon, said: "There is no justice in this temporary release, which is an offence not only to the McCabe family but also to Jerry's colleagues. They are going in and out as if they were voluntary prisoners."
He added; "Our colleagues are beginning to ask what is a garda's life worth. If the garda does not see that he has the protection of the State, it could lead to a serious demoralisation of the force.
"We had been fully assured by the Department of Justice and the Taoiseach that those people would all serve their full sentences."
The four men were convicted of the killing in February 1999 and sentenced to between 11 and 14 years. The Government to date has opposed their early release under the Belfast Agreement.