THE refusal by Sinn Fein to condemn the murder of Det Garda Jerry McCabe in Adare, Co Limerick last Friday, was attacked in the Seanad yesterday, where a minute's silence was observed to mark the death.
A sense of tremendous outrage has gripped the country following this act of barbarity, Mr John Dardis (PD), told the House. This, he said, extends to a sense of bewilderment that Sinn Fein cannot condemn the act.
"They cannot condemn it on the curious supposition that it had nothing to do with them. On the one hand they cannot condemn people within the IRA and now curiously they cannot condemn people which they say are not.
Mr Paddy McGowan (FF), said most Irish people felt like "vomiting when Sinn Fein vice-president Pat Doherty refused to condemn the murder of Det Garda McCabe on RTE's Questions and Answers programme on Monday night.
Ms Jan O'Sullivan (Labour, Limerick) said she knew Det Garda McCabe and anyone who saw the number of people who attended his removal and funeral would realise the people of Limerick, in their thousands, were speaking for the people of Ireland.
"They represented a feeling in this country, a viewpoint that we want violence to play no part in this country. I call on Sinn Fein to condemn it," she said.
Det Garda McCabe's death was described as an "appalling" tragedy by Mr Dan Neville (FG Limerick).
The House leader, Mr Maurice Manning (FG), said the huge numbers of mourners who attended the funeral "spoke for everyone and showed there was no ambivalence".
Mr David Norris (Ind), called for a debate on civil strife in this country. "I think it is time that a clear message is sent out to Provisional Sinn Fein/Provisional IRA.