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Martin McGuinness forced to condemn IRA men who killed police officer Gerry McCabe

Presidential hopeful forced into u-turn by newspaper reporters

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, September 19, 2011, 7:22 AM

Updated Tuesday, September 20, 2011, 12:19 PM

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Martin McGuinness

Photo by AP

Sinn Fein Presidential election candidate Martin McGuinness has become embroiled in his first row – as he was forced into condemning the IRA killers of policeman Gerry McCabe.

The former IRA man initially refused to denounce the IRA men who killed officer McCabe during a bank robbery in 1996.

McGuinness had lobbied for the four men charged with the murder to qualify for early release from jail under the Good Friday Agreement.

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Approached by reporters from the Irish Independent newspaper on Sunday, he initially declined to condemn the killing but later undertook a u-turn when he told the paper that he did ‘unreservedly condemn it’.

“I fully understand the grief of the detective sergeant’s family is something that cannot be underestimated,” said McGuinness.

“As President of Ireland, if I am honoured by the Irish people to be elected into that position, I, obviously, will have a huge responsibility to uphold all the institutions of the State.”

Officer McCabe and colleague Ben O’Sullivan were shot during a raid on the post office in Adare, Co Limerick. McCabe died but O'Sullivan recovered. The IRA denied any involvement but later acknowledged its members were involved.

Gerry McCabe’s widow refused to discuss McGuinness when approached by the Irish Independent.
“I’m not prepared to discuss that man at all. I have no comment to make,” she said.

Nster.com

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gobdawpaddy | Sep 21, 2011, 03:55 AM EDT

Niamhaineerence honey, my posting was very early in the game and the reference to both Gerry McCabe and Ben O'sullivan being shot dead appears to have been corrected before you got around to reading it.

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Niamhaine | Sep 20, 2011, 09:39 AM EDT

Gobdawpaddy and Trealach, the article stated McCabe died and O'Sullivan recovered. It goes on to talk about Mc Cabe's widow. Maybe the two of you should check your reading skills before posting.

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maireadinmelb | Sep 20, 2011, 07:35 AM EDT

Interesting the expectation that he should denounce every act of republicans, Are Robinson, Paisley or David Cameron chased by the media to condemn the acts of all unionists??

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DanOLoingsigh | Sep 20, 2011, 03:31 AM EDT

Getting the IRA off the self-imposed hook required democrats to go along with a carefully constructed act of collective amnesia. The price of peace has been hypocrisy: Keeping quiet when Sinn Féin demanded accountability for Bloody Sunday but not for Kingsmills. Biting tongues when they claimed moral purity, contrasted against the deviousness of other (democratically elected) parties. The IRA killed 644 civilians but only 28 loyalist paramilitaries. It killed children, including Jonathan Ball, Tim Parry and Paul Maxwell. It practised kidnapping and torture. It held kangaroo courts and imposed arbitrary death sentences. These are war crimes for which there is no statute of limitations. McGuinness was in a position of authority within the IRA so he was legally and morally responsible. He continued to portray himself and his murderous accomplices, not as perpetrators, but as victims of the conflict. McGuinness was allowed to escape the consequences of the deeds he organised and lauded, and now he seeks the presidency. This would be a high-risk move, but not for SF. The Irish people will have to decide if it can have a man with this record representing the country as Head of State; does collective amnesia wear off in time?

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macalister | Sep 19, 2011, 11:54 PM EDT

Say whatever you have to say,do whatever you have to do,to get the "power" seat. Pathetic.

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CanadianPat | Sep 19, 2011, 10:31 PM EDT

No one can force Martin McGuiness to do or say anything he does not believe . He has never denied his past and has always lived up to what he says !That is why even those who most opposed his political vue have grown to respect and even befriend him.No one else in the race comes close !

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DaithiSuibhne | Sep 19, 2011, 08:15 PM EDT

Martin have you gone totally daft man? If you really think anyone would elect a lying cretin such as yourself to any post of authority you have.it's known to all that your just looking out for your bank account and not for the interst of the common man. Sure you'll condem the actions of your former comrads, look what you've already done to them in the past. I'm quite sure your good friend and 'Fellow Minister' Gerry Adams would vote for you, but I'm not to sure about your former 'Comrades' of the Republican Movement. Perhaps if you play your cards right your good friends Ian Paisley and Jeffery Donaldson will campaign for you.

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seanomelbourne | Sep 19, 2011, 06:33 PM EDT

Red branh is another unionist apologist with fuzzy 99% figures.The pro british lobby and Their Irish acolytes will say anything to demonise McGuinness.Peterson!! morons have been saying that the IRA have outlived their usefulness for 90 years only to be proven wrong.Murphy what do you mean by people should change !!! change into what.

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pilib04 | Sep 19, 2011, 05:50 PM EDT

This article is just attempting to slander Martin McGuinness. Marty has been co-leader of the coalition government in Northern Ireland since 8 May 2007. All issues about him have been vetted by the Northern Ireland press and the British media. The Irish Voice should try staying out of the gutter. In the words of the Presbyterian minister, the Reverend David Latimer, "Martin, I see you as one of the great leaders of our time" Good luck, Martin.

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JackFknTwist | Sep 19, 2011, 03:58 PM EDT

Well at least Martin McGuinness has more balls than that pathetic simpleton Dana Dumb Scallon.

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johnymac60 | Sep 19, 2011, 03:01 PM EDT

antoman, you are spot on, a chara!

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peterson | Sep 19, 2011, 02:29 PM EDT

The IRA has outlived it's usefulness !!

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greensod | Sep 19, 2011, 02:28 PM EDT

Cahal Dervan, Do you stand over what you put in print, or do you need to retract it? This is serious and important. Explain please,only the facts.

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citizen69 | Sep 19, 2011, 01:58 PM EDT

"Forced"? He shouldn't have to be forced to condemn a cold blooded murder. Pity he won't condemn any of the IRA murders in Northern Ireland where he is joint leader. But Sinn Fein will sacrifice what they must in order to advance the party. They've sacrificed their principals in the past and will do it again. I must admit it is a very savvy move for SF as McGuinness has gained some international respect for his role in the Northern Irish Assembly but to turn his back on the peace process seems a selfish move (much like Gerry Adam's move to Louth). S.F. know that McGuinness is their only hope. Gerry Adams could never win this but Martin has a chance and in Sinn Fein's world the only thing that matters is Sinn Fein.

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RedBranch | Sep 19, 2011, 01:23 PM EDT

'Forced into condemming... ' I don't think anybody 'forces' the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, UK into anything. The U turn is yet another in the slow learning process from unapologetic killer to democrat. A place where 99% of the rest of us were from the beginning. Welcome aboard Marty, shame you couldn't have done it 40 years ago and brought more of the 1% with you!

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