Tributes have been paid to retired Garda detective Ben O’Sullivan, who died on Friday, 26 years after he survived being seriously wounded in an IRA gun attack that claimed the life of his colleague, Det Jerry McCabe.
Mr O’Sullivan, (78), died surrounded by his family in the early hours of Friday, at Milford Hospice, Co Limerick, following a short illness.
Mr O’Sullivan, originally from Mourneabbey, Mallow, Co Cork, but living in Corbally, Limerick, survived after being shot 11 times during the attack on Main Street, Adare, on June 7th, 1996.
The gang, armed with AK47 machine guns, opened fire on the two detectives as they sat in their patrol car while escorting a post office van that was delivering cash and mail in the village.
Four men were jailed for their roles in the attack. However, their guilty pleas to manslaughter during their murder trial, which were accepted by the State, were met with revulsion by families of the gardaí, rank-and-file members of the force and the wider public.
The two detectives were later awarded the Scott Medal and were also both honoured with the Freedom of Limerick in 2018, for their bravery and work on the frontline.
Mr O’Sullivan was also awarded a Scott Medal in 1994 after he disarmed a gunman who was on the loose in Limerick city.
Paying tribute to Mr O’Sullivan, Pat Kearney, a brother-in-law of the late Det McCabe, said: “Ben was a mighty character, a mighty strong man, physically, mentally, spiritually. He was a terrific man; he took 11 bullets into his body and lived.”
‘Trauma’
Speaking last July, following the 25th anniversary of the IRA attack, Mr O’Sullivan opened up about the trauma he had suffered. “My reluctance to give interviews is because I was waking up at night saturated with perspiration for a couple of years after what happened in Adare.”
The father of four said he had found solace and peace in a farm he bought afterwards, which “helped deprive me of pondering on my past and allowing me to live my future”.
The two Garda colleagues, who were also “best friends”, would this year have celebrated the 50th anniversary of their joining the Garda Special Branch in Limerick.
They both also protected the late Dessie O’Malley, who died last year, when he was minister for justice in the 1970s and when he faced a threat from the Provisional IRA.
“I was with [Mr O’Malley] during the ‘dangerous times’, and maybe we didn’t realise it at the time that it was as dangerous as it was, because if you were afraid of danger, you would have stayed in bed,” said Mr O’Sullivan.
Mr Kearney said Mr O’Sullivan was a “one-off hero” who remained “dignified” all throughout the controversy surrounding the IRA killers’ manslaughter pleas, as well as calls by Sinn Féin for the early release of Det McCabe’s killers under the Belfast Agreement.
“It is sad he has passed away, a man who went through so much and survived it all, and he was left with a lot of pain, but he never gave in to it,” said Mr Kearney.
‘Friend to everyone’
“Ben was a friend to everyone,” Mr Kearney said. “He was as honest and direct a man as you could meet. He helped anyone in any way he could. He was great company, had endless stories, yarns, and jokes.
“He had great dignity, great stature, and he gave every man a fair break.”
Mr O’Sullivan is survived by his wife, Anne, a retired nurse, and his three daughters and son.
His funeral Mass will take place at 1pm on Monday at St Mary’s Church, Athlunkard Street, Limerick, followed by private burial afterwards in Kilcornan Cemetery, west Limerick.
Chief Supt Gerry Roche, head of the Limerick Garda Division, said Mr O’Sullivan was “a true hero” who had served in the force “with distinction”.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee were among others to pay tribute.
A book of condolences has been opened at Henry Street Garda station, Limerick city, and the Tricolour at the Limerick Garda Headquarters was flying at half mast on Friday as a mark of respect.