Gardai have yet to question two men whom they have for almost three decades suspected of being part of an IRA gang that murdered Limerick Detective Garda Jerry McCabe, in Adare, 27 years ago today.
Around the time of the June 7, 1996 killing, the two men left Ireland and travelled to Central America and Europe.
Despite Gardai monitoring the men's movements over the years, neither man has been spoken to by gardai about the Adare atrocity, sources familiar with the investigation have said.
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Four of the gang, Pearse McAuley, Kevin Walsh, Michael O’Neill and Jeremiah Sheehy, later went on trial for detective McCabe’s murder, however, controversially, their pleas to manslaughter were accepted by the State.
The four were subsequently released after serving their sentences despite efforts by Sinn Fein to have them released early under terms of the Northern Ireland peace deal.
Jerry McCabe’s widow Ann McCabe, as well her late husband’s brother-in-law, Pat Kearney, continued to appeal to the authorities to question any remaining suspects.
Speaking through a family source, Ann McCabe passed on her “thanks to the people of Limerick and Ireland for their generous and wonderful support to the McCabe family over the years”.
Two of her children, John, and, Ross, are serving members of the force.
Fianna Fáil TD, Willie O’Dea, said he supported Ann McCabe and Pat Kearney’s appeals to the authorities to bring the case to a conclusion.
“I’d support that, I can’t see any logical or good reason why these guys haven't been interviewed yet,” said Mr O’Dea.
The Limerick TD described the killing of Det Gda McCabe as “a direct attack on the State”.
“It was very blatant and the community was in total shock for weeks afterwards. I remember attending the funeral and there was an eight-hour queue which showed what the people of Limerick thought of what happened.”
Mr O’Dea said it was “unacceptable” that any individuals suspected of being involved in Jerry McCabe’s killing would not be arrested, no matter how much time had passed.
Ann McCabe was unavailable for comment today, however, a family source said she continued to seek the arrest of outstanding members of the gang that killed her husband.
Speaking on the 25th anniversary of her husband’s murder, Ms McCabe said she hoped to one day be able too “eyeball” those still wanted by gardai in connection with the killing.
“Hopefully I will be (alive) if they are brought back; it is my wish that they be brought back, and I will be there to eyeball them, one hundred per cent,” said Ms McCabe.
Jerry McCabe was killed outright at the scene, and his colleague, Detective Garda Ben O’Sullivan, who passed away last year aged 78, was seriously wounded after sustaining 11 bullet wounds.
The two Limerick-based gardai, Detective McCabe posthumously, received the Scott Gold Medal for bravery, and were awarded the Freedom of Limerick City in 2018.
On the day of the fatal gun attack the IRA gang rammed the two detectives who were escorting a post office cash delivery van in Adare, and fired off 14 rounds from an AK47 machine gun into the garda patrol car.
Speaking in 2021, Ben O’Sullivan shared his hope that any alleged outstanding members the gang would be arrested for questioning: “The perpetrators were brought to justice, other than two, and, where there is life, there is hope, and I have that hope”.
Speaking in Adare on the 25th anniversary of the murder, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said the 1996 investigation remained “active and is subject to three-monthly reviews, so it isn't anyway forgotten about”.
“At all times we wish to pursue further avenues, and lines of enquiry, and perhaps the public can help us in that, because there are two fugitives who would have been well known in this area who have now moved elsewhere, they are not within our jurisdiction, they are not within our grasp,” Mr Harris said.
“But we do believe people here in the locality or in Limerick may have information that could be of great assistance to us in locating those individuals,” Mr Harris concluded.
In response to request for comment, a Garda spokesperson said: “Commissioner Harris spoke about this at the commemoration ceremony in 2021 to mark the 25th anniversary of the murder of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe. Commissioner Harris said that the investigation into the murder of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe remains an active investigation that is subject to regular review.
"That remains the case. Commissioner Harris also appealed to the public, particularly in Limerick, for any information in relation to two individuals suspected to be involved in the murder who are living abroad. Commissioner Harris repeated that appeal again today.”
Garda Chief Supt Derek Smart, Limerick Division said: “We continue to appeal for anybody with information in respect of this matter, no matter how small they think it may be, to come forward to us.”
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