Sinn Féin has said it will no longer seek the release of the killers of Det Garda Jerry McCabe as part of a deal in the North, following a statement from the men that they no longer want their release to be considered in such talks, writes Mark Brennock, Chief Political Correspondent
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said last night this "belated statement" from the men "simply recognises the reality" that the Government has already ruled out any consideration of the early release of the men in future talks. However, the Sinn Féin statement from Martin Ferris TD accepts this position, thus removing the issue as an obstacle to any future progress.
In a statement yesterday from Castlerea Prison, the four men apologised for the killing of Det Garda McCabe and the serious wounding of Garda Ben O'Sullivan during an attempted IRA post office van robbery in Adare, Co Limerick, in 1996.
"We deeply regret and apologise for this and the hurt and grief we have caused the families," the men went on. "There was never any intent to attack any members of the Garda Síochána" during what they called "an IRA operation in Adare in June 1996".
While insisting that they qualified for release under the Belfast Agreement - a point that has always been disputed by the Government and the McCabe family - they said they no longer wanted their release to be part of negotiations. This was because the Government was "now presenting our release as an obstacle to negotiations and an agreement".
This meant they were being used "as political pawns or hostages to undermine this process", and they would not allow this. "We are totally committed to the peace process. . . The cause of lasting peace is too important," they said.
The four men - Kevin Walsh, Pearse McAuley, Jeremiah Sheehy and Michael O'Neill - were convicted of the manslaughter of Det Garda McCabe, who was shot dead in Adare in June 1996. They were sentenced in 1999 to terms of up to 14 years and are due for release on dates ranging from May 2007 to August 2009. Last month, the Taoiseach ruled out the early release of the men, which had been on the table in discussions with Sinn Féin about a deal in the North.
A Government spokeswoman said last night the statement from the four men was irrelevant given the Taoiseach's statement that the issue was now off the table and would not be back on it while he is Taoiseach. She added: "The fact that they have apologised to the McCabe family is welcomed."
Mr Ferris immediately welcomed the statement from the men yesterday, saying that while his party would continue to campaign for their release, this would no longer be part of negotiations.
"This was a difficult decision for the men and their families, particularly as the Government has twice agreed to their release. I believe their apology to the McCabe and O'Sullivan families is genuine, as is their desire not to be used as a blockage to ongoing efforts to rebuild the peace process," he said.
A spokesman for the McCabe family, Pat Kearney, said last night their initial reaction was that an apology was very late in the day and did not alleviate the loss. "However, we are Christian people and an apology is always welcome from wrongdoers."
The Garda Representative Association said it was outraged at the suggestion that "there was never any intent to attack members of An Garda Síochána" during the incident in Adare.
"The evidence of the attack clearly indicates that their actions on the day made no attempt to spare the lives of the Garda officers, firing into their vehicle not once but twice and after doing so they made no attempt to take the money but left the scene."
In the North, unionists dismissed the prisoners' statement as dishonest and selfish, while the SDLP said it was beyond belief.
Ulster Unionist Michael McGimpsey queried the timing, bearing in mind the pressure republicans were under at the moment.