Oireachtas members of Sinn Féin today supported Martin Ferris meeting the killers of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe on their release from prison.
Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said it had been his colleague’s responsibility to be involved when Kevin Walsh and Pearse McCauley walked out of Castlerea last month.
The men served more than 10 years of a 14-year manslaughter sentence for shooting the Limerick detective during an attempted post office robbery in 1996.
Mr Ferris came under criticism when he met the pair on their release and appeared to shield them from the waiting press as they left in a van.
But Mr O’Caolain, TD for Cavan-Monaghan, said he supported Mr Ferris’s direct role on the day. “We have to recognise that Martin had a direct responsibility, was in direct contact with the Department of Justice representatives over all of these years,” he said at a party think-in at Howth,
“That was an integral part of his overall responsibility as the Irish Government very well knows.”
Mr Ferris said he didn’t believe the move would affect his own standing with the public. He revealed he had been in contact with officials at the Department of Justice prior to the men’s release and that they were aware he would be at Castlerea.
“The public are well aware that for many years I have been acting as spokesperson for the prisoners,” Mr Ferris said.
“I was there in that capacity and also to try and ensure that it wouldn’t be turned into a media circus to add further hurt and pain to Ann McCabe and her family who are the victims in all of this as well.”
PA