Opposition parties and Garda representatives in the Republic and unionists in the North have expressed outrage at the news that the Government was prepared to release the killers of Det Garda Jerry McCabe last year as part of a political settlement in Northern Ireland.
Political sources North and South of the Border confirmed last night that the release of the four men was a secret part of the deal planned for last October but which fell apart because of the lack of detail given about a substantial IRA act of weapons decommissioning.
The opposition and Garda representatives said yesterday that this ran contrary to repeated Government assurances that the men would not be released under the terms of the Belfast Agreement.
The Taoiseach said in 1999 that the men would serve their full sentences,
while the Tánaiste said in December 2000 that they would never be released so long as the Progressive Democrats were in Government.
However, it was confirmed last night that Sinn Féin’s demand for the men’s release was set to be conceded last October if the republican movement did all that was required of it. This included declaring that its activity was at a permanent end, and a transparent act of putting weapons beyond use as part of a disarmament process.
Ultimately, the IRA did not permit the head of the International Decommissioning body, Gen John de Chastelain, to reveal sufficient
details of the decommissioning act.
The Ulster Unionists responded to the lack of clarity by refusing to be part of the deal.
The Government did not confirm yesterday that the release had been considered. However, in a statement the Department of Justice indicated
a refinement of the Government position, suggesting that release as part of a deal was possible.
Noting that Sinn Féin had repeatedly demanded that the Government release those convicted in relation to the killing of Garda Jerry McCabe, the statement said: "The Government has always made it clear that it would not authorise any such release in the context of continued Provisional paramilitarism. The Government's position has not changed and will not
change."
The DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, said he was “deeply disturbed” that the four could have been released. The UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, said he knew nothing about the plan, but he claimed it justified his decision not to accept what was on offer last October.
The Northern Ireland Office did not comment last night on the matter, but The Irish Times understands that the report is seen by the British government as accurate.