Senior gardai are to seek assurances from the Government that "proper legal and physical protection" is in place for officers confronting armed terrorists and criminals following last week's decision by the State to accept manslaughter pleas in the Det Garda McCabe murder case.
The Association of Chief Superintendents, representing the most senior operational officers in the force, are seeking a meeting with the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, to discuss what is understood to be widespread concern in the force about the implications of the case.
The association issued a statement yesterday saying: "The course of the trial was directly and deliberately influenced by the intimidation of, and interference with, witnesses, and this is a most serious situation because the reason for the existence of the Special Criminal Court is to ensure the administration of justice when the `ordinary' courts are unable to do so.
"It is not intended to criticise the judges of the court, who obviously adjudicated on the evidence presented orally to them. This evidence was considerably weaker than the known information contained in the book of evidence.
"This association believes that the murder of Det Garda McCabe was a deliberate act committed by ruthless, practised and dedicated terrorists. The sentence imposed on those individuals does not reflect the seriousness of the crime committed, nor does it serve as a warning to those who might follow their example.
"What occurred in Adare was an attack on one of the institutions of the State, the Garda Siochana, by the private army raised and maintained by the republican movement.
"What occurred in the Special Criminal Court last week was the same people taking on the criminal justice system of the State. They won on both occasions.
"This situation raises questions of the gravest kind. These questions are not about giving something to the Northern Ireland peace process so that it can succeed. It is of far greater importance than that. It is about how this State can protect itself and its servants in the future.
"What, for instance, are the implications for our largely unarmed Garda force when they confront armed criminals? Where is their legal protection?
"For our part the Garda Siochana will continue to serve the people, but in order to do so the legal protection which was found so wanting last week must be restored. The most appropriate response is to take practical legal and operational steps to ensure that the challenges posed by these negative developments will not prevail.
"When we require the men and women of the Garda Siochana to put their lives on the line, when we task them with onerous duties, we have to be satisfied that they are afforded proper legal and physical protection."