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Home Page > News > Gerry Adams finally apologises for IRA’s murder of Detective Jerry McCabe

Gerry Adams finally apologises for IRA’s murder of Detective Jerry McCabe

Apology comes 17 years later and follows Dundalk killing

PATRICK COUNIHAN,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, January 30, 2013, 7:38 AM

Updated Wednesday, January 30, 2013, 9:29 AM

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Limerick man Jerry McCabe was shot dead by republicans during a botched post office raid in Adare in June 1996

Photo by Google Images

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has apologised for the IRA murder of Irish police officer Jerry McCabe – 17 years later.

The Louth deputy made the public apology in the Irish parliament on Tuesday.

Adams apologised to McCabe’s family for the IRA’s actions as he also paid tribute to murdered detective Adrian Donohue.

The remarks were made 24 hours before a state funeral for Dundalk based office Donohue, gunned down in a robbery at a County Louth credit union last Friday.

Limerick man McCabe was shot dead by republicans during a botched post office raid in Adare in June 1996.

Republican leader Adams told the Irish parliament that the death of detective Donohoe had provoked memories of the killing of Garda McCabe and the wounding of his colleague Ben O Sullivan.

He said: “I want to apologise to Mrs Anne McCabe and the McCabe family, and to Garda (police officer) Ben O’Sullivan and to the families of other members of the state forces who were killed by republicans in the course of the conflict.

“I am very sorry for the pain and loss inflicted on those families. No words of mine can remove that hurt. Dreadful events cannot be undone.

“But I want to restate that the resolve of Sinn Fein and of the majority of Irish people is to ensure that there is never, ever a recurrence of conflict.”

Four members of the Provisional IRA members were convicted of McCabe’s murder but have since been freed from jail.

The Belfast Telegraph reports that a decade ago Adams described the murder of detective McCabe as reprehensible but did not apologise.

McCabe’s widow has repeatedly challenged him to condemn her husband’s killing.

See more: Sinn Fein , Irish Republican Army

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94 Comments

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seanomelb | Feb 04, 2013, 06:35 PM EST

Brendan I do not see myself more Irish than anyone else. The post was rhetorical, but! If you wish to be a west brit so be it your choice.

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PatrickRiordan | Feb 04, 2013, 05:26 PM EST

seanmelb - As a Garda I well understand democratic principles. I have never been to a police ball, we don't have them here. Why do you think you're more Irish then the rest of us who live here? What's a "west brit"? Kindly explain in detail. How do you plan to make them leave Ireland? People who don't live in the country can't vote and don't pay taxes.

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Gordan Duggan | Feb 04, 2013, 01:52 PM EST

Every time Adams opens his mouth he belittles himself.

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IrelandNorth | Feb 04, 2013, 03:57 AM EST

[Sur]realist! Like too many others, you've obviously made up your mind and don't want to be disturbed by incinvenient truths. You're blinded by prejudice, seasoned with subjectivity. If condemning belligerants who were killed in action brought them back to life, I'd condemn. It doesn't, so I dont. Purely utilitarian old chap! On a point of information, I did express my opinions to Civilian Kelly, and cautioned him about allowing himself be used by dark forces. You ignore my point apropos loyalty vs patriotism. So why argue. My patriotism is to what it said on the 1916 bisuit tin, not the Ballyseedy Brigade or Ballybricken pig buyers.

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anglo-norman | Feb 03, 2013, 06:39 PM EST

Is that why you left Ireland sean?

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seanomelb | Feb 03, 2013, 05:31 PM EST

OOps sorry for the repitition

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seanomelb | Feb 03, 2013, 05:30 PM EST

Dublin born Brendan get it right. You are obliged to pay Gerry's salary,do you wish to cherrypick who deserves a salary and who doesn't. You obviously are not attuned to democratic principles. I would like all the west brits to leave Ireland.

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seanomelb | Feb 03, 2013, 05:30 PM EST

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seanomelb | Feb 03, 2013, 05:30 PM EST

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Realist | Feb 03, 2013, 04:10 PM EST

IrelandNorth: "Is Ireland a branch of Tescos?" Would you have the gall to stand in front of Private Kelly's son and say that? I doubt it. I'm sorry, but all I see from you is a load of obfuscation and school-boy rhetoric....and, I'm afraid, at the end of the day what we have is an "ex-Irish Army man" who cannot bring himself to condemn the murder of a fellow Irish Army soldier who died trying to help rescue an innocent kidnapped man - sadly, and this is why I asked you to come out of the closet, I suspect it's because your true loyalty lies with the PIRA terrorists who murdered him. Shame.

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IrelandNorth | Feb 03, 2013, 02:41 PM EST

Realist! (i) Kidnapping was/is crime ordinary, and as such should be dealt with by the state police - Án Gárda Síochana na h'Éireann (ÁGSÉ), not by the southern state's military - aka Oglaigh na h'Éireann. Fortunately, they've armed the ÁGSÉ appropriately as to be able to stand on their own two feet since, without being babysat and soothered by OnE. (ii) What was a probationer Gárda doing on a dangerous mission? (iii) How is springing a British supermarket executive defending one's state? Is Ireland a branch of Tesco (ex-Quinnsworth)? If so, would free groceries for life for his family not be better than a posthumous medalion. One isn't loyal to a state which claims to be a republic - albeit prematurely ejaculatory! One is patriotic to a republic but loyal to a constitutional monarchy. Private Kelly was a soldier not a servant. How is one patriotic to the Irish state by springing a British supermarket executive, unless they are Irish citizens, military comrades or political leaders. How come they didn't commission MP Cpl Kelly? Does the death of a father not qualify for a field commission? The Chief-of-Staff says more than he knows! Pte Kelly's other non-military son was shamelessly used as cannon fodder in the presidential campaign, allegedly by Fine Gael elements within ÁGSÉ, a dangerous interference in political affairs by elements within the state police, which is contrary to the Gárda Rule Book. Condemnation doesn't bring people back to life. And using working-class people like such who can't get better jobs is hardly inspiring. After all, I could've been a Pte Kelly, had I not had the good sense to get out when I did way back when.

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IrelandNorth | Feb 03, 2013, 02:39 PM EST

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Willie Frazer | Feb 03, 2013, 11:49 AM EST

I was told by some good and dacent friends of mine down in the state that this police man was a big bully and he also wanted to be a hero so to further his career, sort of.Now a wouldnt want inyone to think that a condone this act that took this mans life ,but a beleive, and me as a good presbyterian can tell you that the good book says that those of us who have not sinned should not be casting the first stone.

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Realist | Feb 03, 2013, 06:26 AM EST

IrelandNorth: By the way, what has kidnapping innocent members of the business community got to do with achieving a "united Ireland"? Please spare me the Mickey Mouse Roger Garland quotation this time - weasel words, you can do better than that my friend. Come out of the closet and give straight answers to straight questions.

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Realist | Feb 03, 2013, 06:11 AM EST

IrelandNorth: The Provisional IRA have openly admitted kidnapping Don Tidey. It is an accepted fact substantiated by the Garda forensic investigation and supported by the Irish and British Governments, and the Irish Defence Force, that both Private Kelly and Garda Sheehan were killed by the kidnappers (the Provisional IRA). Therefore; why do you print lies about this? Why, "as an ex-member of the Irish Army" do you, like former convicted IRA terrorist Martin McGuinness, refuse to condemn the murder of Patrick Kelly? Please explain.

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