THE LAST two men serving prison sentences for the killing of Det Garda Jerry McCabe were due to be released from prison this morning in a move that the dead man’s family has said will bring them closure after 13 years.
Pearse McAuley (44) and Kevin Walsh (52) were due to walk free from Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon some time after 7am. They have served 10½ years for their role in the 1996 shooting in Adare, Co Limerick.
The UK authorities are still seeking the extradition of McAuley in connection with conspiracy to murder and explosives charges. McAuley escaped from London’s Brixton prison in 1991 while awaiting trial.
A statement released recently by Det Garda McCabe’s widow Ann and their five children said: “Although there are outstanding matters from the events in Adare of June 7th, 1996, for the McCabe family, the completion of the sentences brings closure and consolation that the rule of law at least has been served.”
It concluded by saying the family would be making no further comment on the case.
Two other men suspected of involvement in the killing are still on the run in South America.
Det Garda McCabe was providing an armed escort for an SDS cash delivery van with his colleague Det Garda Ben O’Sullivan when they were ambushed by a gang linked to the Provisional IRA.
Det Garda McCabe was shot three times as he sat in his unmarked Garda car. Det Garda O’Sullivan was wounded by bullets and shrapnel, in the face, arms, chest and leg, but survived. He would later say of the attack: “They were wearing balaclavas. They carried what appeared to be Kalashnikov rifles. They had the guns pointed at us. In an instant, without any warning, they opened fire.”
Four men were later convicted, including McAuley and Walsh. They were both jailed for 14 years for manslaughter but had 3½ years taken off their sentence as remission. Jeremiah Sheehy was released in 2008, while Michael O’Neill, who was also convicted of manslaughter, left prison in 2007.
Det Garda McCabe’s killing had almost the same impact on the country as that of Veronica Guerin, 19 days later. His removal was the biggest Limerick had seen in 20 years.
A bid by his killers to secure early release under the Belfast Agreement was rejected by the High Court.
The men were jailed briefly at Portlaoise Prison before being moved to “The Grove” area of Castlerea, where prisoners live in houses and not cell accommodation. Reports of a relaxed regime regularly filtered into the media. The men were permitted at times to order in their own food, including Chinese takeaway.
