Jail photo angers police widow

Murdered Garda Jerry McCabe

The widow of an Irish detective has criticised a visit by Sinn Fein members of the Irish parliament to her husband's killers.

A picture of the visit to Castlerea prison was published in the republican movement's weekly newspaper An Phoblacht, and at least one other national daily paper in the Republic of Ireland.

Detective Garda Jerry McCabe died after being shot during an attempted post office robbery in the village of Adare, County Limerick, in June 1996.

Pearse McCauley from Strabane, County Tyrone and Kevin Walsh from Limerick are serving 14 years for Garda McCabe's manslaughter.

Also convicted on charges relating to the killing and serving sentences are Jeremiah Sheehy and Michael O'Neill from County Limerick.

Anne McCabe, widow of Jerry McCabe said: "I thought it was unusual to see that Dail deputies would be allowed in to stand beside the convicted killers of my husband.

"I thought it was against the rules of the jail."

It is so insensitive to the family of Jerry McCabe and, indeed, to his colleagues Michael Kirby Garda representative

Mrs McCabe said she believed that the convicted men would serve their time.

"I have it on full authority that they will do their time. We've had assurances from past and present governments that they will do their time."

The prison service has apologised for any distress it may have caused, but Sinn Féin has defended the picture's publication.

Garda representative Michael Kirby said it should not have happened.

"It is so insensitive to the family of Jerry McCabe and, indeed, to his colleagues that these people who are elected to Dail Eireann could pose for photographs and have it published," he said.

"Are they glorifying what happened in Adare?"

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams acknowledged it was distressing for Garda McCabe's family.

He said that those who had seized on the photograph were operating to an anti Sinn Fein agenda.

The prison service in the Republic is to review visiting arrangements for IRA prisoners at Castlerea Prison.