McDowell rejects call over McCabe killers
Tuesday, 26 April 2005 22:25
The Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, has rejected a call from the annual conference of the Garda Representative Association to withdraw the special prison arrangements for the killers of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe.
The four men are serving their sentences in houses not cells in Castlerea Prison, and have the use of television sets and kitchen facilities.
Mr McDowell said he was not prepared to act in an arbitrary or capricious manner and change the current situation. However, he said he would not hesitate to do so if the men breached prison rules.
The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, also commented on the issue in the Dáil after it was raised by the Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny.
Mr Kenny said the conditions under which the men were held gave 'two fingers' to the McCabe family, the Government, and the Irish people.
Mr Ahern said the GRA never once raised the conditions under which the killers of Det Garda McCabe are held at his many meetings with them.
Mr Ahern added that while they were being held in an open prison, his understanding was that it could not be called luxurious.
