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SINN FÉIN PRESIDENT Gerry Adams has issued a landmark apology to the family of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe, and other members of Irish security forces who were killed by republicans during the course of the Northern Irish conflict.
Adams made the comments during Dáil expressions of sympathy on the shooting dead of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe on Friday evening.
“The death of Garda Donohoe has also provoked memories of the killing of Garda Jerry McCabe, and the wounding of Garda Ben O’Sullivan in June in 1996,” Adams said.
I want to apologise to Mrs McCabe and the McCabe family, and to Garda Ben O’Sullivan – and to the families of other members of State forces who were killed by republicans in the course of the conflict.I am very sorry for the pain and loss inflicted upon those families.
McCabe was killed, and O’Sullivan seriously wounded, when their patrol car was attacked by the Provisional IRA as they escorted a cash delivery to a post office in Adare, Co Limerick in 1996.
As one vehicle had rammed their car from behind, another arrived and opened fire on their vehicle.
Adams said that while “no words of mine” could remove that hurt, and that “dreadful deeds cannot be undone, I want to restate that the resolve of Sinn Féin and of the majority of the Irish people is that there is never a recurrence of conflict.”
He said he wished to extend his deepest sympathy to the family, friends and colleagues of Garda Donohoe, saying his death had “shocked the entire community” and left “a deep sense of shock and loss”.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny had told the Dáil that Donohoe’s murder was “an attack not just on the Gardaí, but on society itself”.
“It is equally an attack on what binds us as a people, as nation – and that is our empathy, our compassion,” the Taoiseach said.
In this murder, the people of Ireland have expressed their revulsion. They have rallied behind the Gardaí.
The Taoiseach said he wanted to assure the family that those who had committed “this vile act will face the full rigour of the law”, promising that the murderers would serve the mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years’ jail for their crimes.
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said the “callous” murder had “starkly underlined” the status of Gardaí not only as “the guardians of our communities – they are the pillar of our communities.
“An attack on a member of An Garda Síochána is an attack on us, as citizens, and on the community they serve,” Gilmore said.
Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin said there was “something truly harrowing about young children being robbed of their father at such a fragile age, even more saddening in the violent circumstances through which he was taken”.
“The least we can offer to his son Niall and daughter Amy is our deep sorrow and our full, unwavering support,” he said, adding that Donohoe had died protecting Ireland from “that same dark agenda” that Garda Jerry McCabe had resisted.
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Certainly a step in the right direction by Adams
Have to agree. It has taken a long time to come about but better late than never. The first steps on a long road in the right direction with regards the victims and their families.
I think it’s a step in the right direction When the British apologised we thought it was,,,, it may not heal the families pain,,, but its a step in the process.
A step in the right direction, but his words might carry more weight if he hadn’t lobbied for the early release of Jerry McCabe’s murderers.
Adams is the nearest thing to a statesman in Ireland at the moment. All the rest are just yellow, greedy politicians.
Enda deBarrell, Fat Wabbit, Heyman Gimmemore, Anal Shitter, Phil Mopóca, …etc.
Yes and Gerry Adam has also called for a truth an reconciliation process which the Irish government refuses to allow, why ?
Did West Belfast’s Gerry Adams apologise for lobbying for the release of Garda McCabes killers? His actions in doing so speak a whole lot louder than his words.
Adams today referred to the death of Jerry McCabe as having occurred during conflict. What conflict was there between Republicans and the Servants of this State in 1996.
The murderers were vicious killers and not anything else and to cloak their filthy deed in the cover of the Troubles in a Northern Ireland is just breathtakingly arrogant and deceitful.
Like it or not Vincent, the peace treaty said prisoners belonging to both sides of the traditional divide and factions would be released if violence was stopped, as reprehensible and disgusting the murder of Garda Gerry Mc Cabe was the same pardon was extended universally, including those who murdered, maimed and stole for god and ulster…you nor anyone else can nitpick at what was offered, it was offered to us in a free vote and we voted for it.
There’s no point you and others here building strawmen arguments, you either accept Gerry Adams apology or you don’t.
I accept it as willingly as I accepted the apology from unionist factions who used similar barbarism to further their goals regardless of how twisted they were.
Of course owing to the nature of Journal commentators that means I’m a shinner, a fallacious argument/assertion which I rarely reply to….I accept apologies as an ongoing step towards reconciliation, if you don’t accept his apology then that’s something restricts your own thoughts on reconciliation.
T-minus 10 minute’s until Vincent Dolan abuses someone
Adams and his Shinner mates denied the murder of Jerry McCabe was part of an IRA operation until they realised that, by admitting it was, they had a chance of getting the killers out early. This is just more hypocritical opportunistic tripe. Over to the shinbots
The murderers of Garda McCabe were not released under the Belfast Agreement. Whilst they have been acknowledged by Sinn Fein as militant republicans, it has never been clearly established that their crime was anything other than a cold blooded murder in the furtherance of an armed robbery for personal gain.
@dermot- fine words no doubt sincerely expressed. But the reality is that Gerry Adams sincerity in apologising is fundamentally undermined by his exacerbating the suffering of Garda McCabes family by securing the release of his murderers. “The cause”…”traditional factions”- all the mitigating factors you pointed to- these belong to Ulster. Gerry Adams stood shoulder to shoulder with thieves who shot a Garda in Limerick. This was criminality, not conflict. Wrapping the Good Friday Agreement around it was an insult to nationalism- as if those men were engaged in an act of patriotism. It was Gerry looking after his own rather than a grieving family. And that is just wrong.
Vincent, i actually agree with you, Adams being seen in public with these murderers is absolutely wrong and must be the most sickening image possible to the wife and children of Jerry McCabe.
Vincent , your knowledge of the terms of the Good Friday Agreement , is in obvious need of reading and refreshing up on.
When you do , you will , I’m sure , understand the merits in endeavouring to bring as much of both sides to the then Conflict, within the umbrella of the Agreement .
The multitude of tiny splinter & many varied Groups of Dissidents since then, is testament to the then agreed policy by ALL the Governments involved in the International Agreement , to endeavour to embrace as many as possible , be they seen to be good or bad types or acceptable “Republicans”.
Adams , McGuinness & most especially Ferris’s work, in keeping as many of these people on board and in support of the Agreement , has to be hugely commended , whether one is an admirer or supporter of them or not.
Personally , as a supporter of the whole peace process , I, like virtually everyone, was totally abhorred at the brutal and inexplicable murder of Garda Gerry McCabe , who was a fine human being & Family man.
The multitude of lives saved in the 16 years since then , is testament enough, I feel , to this peace work , on all sides!
@eddie- my understanding of the GFA and its merits is just fine, thank you. It’s just I’d prefer if justice in this country was not applied to placate criminals, dissident Republicans or not. The suggestion that our justice system look the other way so as not to antagonise Provo’s is obscene. That Gerry Adams was the Architect of this strategy is disgraceful. That Sinn Fein treated these murderers as homecoming heroes on their release compounds the insult.
Vincent, I’m not referring to Dissidents now . If you took the time to read mine again, you might recognise that I’m not an a la carte supporter of The Good Friday Agreement – I abide entirely by every word in that agreement & would expect everyone would too – even you? Or are you being selective like Messrs Kenny & Gilmore & their Band of Merry Men , in their Mister Fixit Government .
I’m long enough around too Vincent to know that Eamonn Gilmore’s past is a little ropey – Stickie SF – Officials – SFWP – WP – Lab. ???? – he certainly has been around the political party block numerous times!!!
At least Adam’s Party , North & South, has stood by their promises !!!!
@eddy,you are wasting your time.Vincent should be a expert on the north at this stage due to him commenting on every article.he refuses to see the other sides views and when you prove your point he automatically will portray you as a murderer or criminal
@eddie- please do refer me to the passage in the GFA that bank robbers and Garda murderers receive a “get out of jail” card at the behest of Gerry Adams. The GFA relates to political prisoners not common criminals. In the immediate aftermath of the atrocity SF were insistent it was nothing to do with their membership. I wonder why that was? As for Eamon Gilmore, you should bring that up with a Labour supporter.
Vincent , your favourite Party are in bed with Gilmore (& his past )& present Party in a Government Coalition – why don’t you ask him yourself?
Well said Steve.
@celia- maybe you would be better off sticking with the whole “crystals can cure Cancer” type debate topics you’re more used to? Next week: how tickles cure gout.
I have no regard for Adams. He is only making this “apology” because of the outrage in his adopted constituency over the murder of the garda on Friday.
Adams has no integrity. He has not got one fibre of honesty.
Tell the truth about your past commander Adams.
I agree Bruce. He had to say something and he could not without finally apologising to the McCabe family. Might make him look bad god forbid. I’m sick of his lies.
Hollow words. Too little too late.
Agreed and he didn’t apologise directly, he said “I want to apologise” not, I apologise. He then said I am sorry for the pain inflicted that’s no different to me calling someone an a$$hole and then saying “I’m sorry if you are offended”
His apology is part of the process of reconciliation Ireland is currently working its way through. Would you prefer we forgot about our past and allowed history to repeat itself? I for one wouldn’t. It’s a slow, delicate and necessary process that requires credit to be given, when due, for it to succeed. Today Mr. Adams and SF deserve credit.
Yeah and what conflict is he referring to? Shouldn’t he have said the murderous criminal activities, there was no conflict in the Republic.
Hollow words indeed :-(
Shaun, credit, for what, murdering people?
Tom, you continue to vote your way, I take it you’re a Labour voter by the affiliations attached to your profile, how your dream has been shattered, see where it gets you. what used to be a worker’s party has become a party for upper-middle class henchmen who are privileged and think Cuba is a holiday destination
Top class’s retort Gaius. Upperclass bagmen for their capitalist masters Fine Gael.
Typical ad hominen attack there Gaius. At least Tom has the guts to comment in person and not behind a pseduo Twitter account set up specifically for the purpose of commenting on Journal.
Jim, i am here, using my own name … I find it extremely hypocritical for party affiliated commenters from Labour/FFG/FF to make derisory comments about an a public apology in the Dail from Adams, when their own partys refuse to acknowledge their own bloody past.
Jim, i say all that, and i am NOT a SF member.
Gaius (which of course isn’t your name, could be Gerry!), not sure what you are saying, the way anyone votes has nothing to do with this article, btw, I’m not a Labour supporter! I’m merely pointing out the obvious error, there was no conflict in the Republic of Ireland. Btw, any steps on healing the wounds and terrible things of the past is very good and I welcome it but why call what happened in the past anything more than what it was, murder of people. I’m all for moving on and forward, we have enough issues today caused by the previous and current to concern ourselves rather than those dark days of the past.
And I am not a member of any political party either Cal. Your point?
Jim, the reason I post under an anonymous profile is because I don’t know what political, local or maybe religious view my employers / neighbours for example may hold, we live in a very small country, maybe instead of calling it an ad hominen attack you could be constructive
Fair point Gaius!
Ollie
That old fashioned term…….capitalist master……I know that’s from the Soviet era and more recently for North Korea. Why should such a term be used in modern Ireland?
@Tom Keating, or whatever your name is. How do we know it’s really you. On the internet nobody knows you’re a dog. So prove it.
Tom, you must have been living in Disneyland during the years of 1968-97
Were you ?
You obviously never heard of the Civil Rights Movement ?
Gaius
I can fully understand that approach regarding your name and I have been known under various nominal titles on this site due to personal threats of violence and concerted attempts to hack into my personal website and my mail. Interesting to see the same names on this site who constantly attack me for expressing my views and challenging economic terrorism as I like to call it and the constant abuse of Government politicians in a manner that is quite libelous.
The interesting thing about hacking is that if the individual isn’t really clever it is possible to bounce their attempts and uncover their own IP address.
Censored, true you don’t know! :-)
Eddie, I’m not sure what your point is? Disneyland is cool by the way :-)
Here ill spell it out: FINE GAEL = A BIRD WITH ONLY A RIGHT WING. FRIEND TO ALL CAPITALISTS AND ULTRA RICH BONDHOLDERS AND A USURPER OF THE POOR AND VULNERABLE. You got that. Good man.
I’ll refresh the Ould memory Tom,
Burntullet – Loyalists – Orangemen – British bombs – Dublin – Monaghan – Bloody Sunday – Mountbatten – Thousands dead on our little Island over 30 years -( must have been a long vacation ) – International Settlement – Good Friday Agreement – British apologise for Derry et al – Various on both sides , apologies !
@Eddie, great response, nice one. I’m fully aware of all of that which happened outside of the Republic of Ireland, outside this state, hence my comment about no conflict here, which there wasn’t.
Reminder – Dublin – Monaghan Bombings in 26 Counties !!!
Back to school for geography lessons – too much Disneyland !!!!!
@Eddie, correct but that was acts of terrorism from a conflict outside our state. Back to school for you to learn your history. Listen, terrible things happened, we all have to move on as we can only shape our future from our mistakes and lessons from the past.
@eddie- you’re missing Tom’s point. The Troubles were outside this jurisdiction. The Gardai were not enemy combatants. So the murder of a Garda McCabe cannot be construed as an act of war.
My God Tom – so you know that the bombers came from outside of the 26 Counties – now are you acknowledging that they may have come from the 6 Counties ?
I think you might report this to the Gardai , as they never acknowledged this or arrested / tried the Bombers ! Many believe that the British / Army / MI 5/6 , were actually involved & that the then Coalition of FG/Lab. didn’t want to find out either????
Nota beag – some History lessons wouldn’t go astray too Tom !
@Vincent, that’s exactly my point.
@Eddie, your missing my point entirely. Best leave it at that.
@Eddie, your missing my point entirely. You’ve gone off at a tangent.
Its great and welcome that Adams made this apology, but we need apologies to every single civilian murdered during the troubles …. We need apologies for all the victims in the South (Gardai, Dublin/Monaghan/Belturbet bombings). In order for this to happen, we need a full National Truth and reconcilliation Program. Are the victims families from Dublin/Monaghan less of a victim than Gerry McCabe, and all the other brave Gardai who dies as a result of the war?
Every civilian victim, deserves justice and apologies.
I know what i am saying is controversial, but we cannot have a two tier hierarchy of victims.
Not at controversial at all ,what you are saying needs to be done , many many families across this Island have been hurt by loss through the troubles Gerry is stepping in the right direction .
Continuosly scratching away at a wound will prevent it’s healing.
Agree with you Cal1
It seems Gerry is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t. Fair play to him for making this statement.
If you read Joe O’Shea’s comment above you can see that Gerry Adams is damned because of what he did.
He has way to much baggage, if Sinn Fein are to make real progress then Adams and all the oldguard need to go. How long is he Sinn Fein president ?
It would carry more weight If Sinn Fein hadn’t shifted heaven & earth to get the killers released early & then to heap insult on injury actually turned up at Castlerea to welcome them out on the day of their release.
Yes he has been nothing but a hinderance for Sinn Féin. He took over when the party was a non-entity in the 26 Counties and today they’re sitting on 19% in opinion polls, but that’s a complete fluke. He’s also the second most popular leader in the state at the minute, but that too, is a fluke. Adams’ baggage is halting the growth of Sinn Féin, yes, that makes perfect sense…
He’s only apologising now because he represents the constituency that Garda Donohue lived in…..There is revulsion in the entire country at the murder of this Garda, as there was in 1996 when Gerry McCabe was murdered by comrades of Gerry Adams….but we all remember his, and Sinn Fein’s, response in 1996….the killers of gerry mccabe were feted as heroes by sinn fein and the “republican movement”….His condemnation today is nothing more than a political necessity for Gerry Adams….
Gerry doesn’t know what the truth is anymore. First he flatly denied that the IRA was involved in the brutal murder of McCabe as he sat in his car, then he said those responsible acted in “contrvention of orders”, then he changed that to “it was not authorised by the Army Council, but authorised at a lower level by an authorised person”. Shame Adams did not see “the pain inflicted” by these murderers before he campaigned for their release, all of them are now out of prison having served miniscule sentences. All of these killers have since attended boozy Sinn Fein fundraisers including those hosted by Martin Ferris in Kerry.
The widow of Jerry McCabe attended a fundraiser for Sinn Fein in the US to ask Adams who authorised the killing of her husband. Gerry Adams talked down to her and refused to answer her question, and the rest of the delegates there began jeering at her to drown out her words. A cynical, hypocritical and calculating statement by Adams who should come clean about his own sordid past.
Excellent assessment Joe.
Joe/Damien, do you not think the surviving victims and families of the Dublin/Monaghan bombingswho wanted to make a peaceful protest during the Queens visit, in public view of her motorcade, should have been allowed to do it? What an insult to these families? FFG/Labour were in power during the atrocity itself, and they were in power when the Queen visited here… They refused the family the license to make their protest. The Queen awarded medals to the perpetrators. What does it say about your own partys involvement in terrorism, and the pursuit of justice?
Classic “whataboutery” by Cal. Don’t look here, look over there ! Or don’t dare speak the truth, you might damage the peace procéis !
Joe, did you even read my initial comment …. i said that Adams apoliogizing to one family was not enough .. I asked about apologies to all families …. instead you turn this into the usual, only the IRA were guilty of murder, when we know that FFG/Labour colluded in many murders and cover ups. You talk to me about what aboutery, and then refuse to condemn FFG/Labour party support for mass murder. Next, you will probably say that FFG/Labour did not cover in multiple murder cover-ups and harassing the families of the Dublin/Monaghan families for years after the event.
Cal, WTF has anything you posted got to do with Joes comment? Do you have a view on Jerry McCabes execution?
O’Reilly, i posted the very first comment on this thread and condemned outright the murder of Jerry McCabe and all the other Gardai murderd by the IRA during the troubles.
Now, let me ask you, before you sleek away … Do you support having a full National Truth and reconciliation forum on this Island to deal with all the murders carried out during the 40 years? You are fast to attack the IRAs past, but you find it extrenmely hard to confront your own party’s past. Do you not think that the families of Dublin/Monaghan/Belturbet massacres (about 36 civilians (men, women, children) deserve the same apologies form those who carried out the atrocities and those who colluded in their cover up? Straight question.
That was what needed to be said, I applaud Adams for doing that..
Someone would want to ask Gerry Adams how active the murderers of Gerry McCabe are in SF one of them is married to one of their councillors in Cavan. Cynical Gerry Adams as usual. No mention of how Martin Ferris was a regular visitor to their prison also and posed to have photos taken with those Garda killers.
No mention of the pain and hurt that he personally caused the McCabe family over the past 19 years by refusing to condemn the murder either.
How many times does it have to be said, Irish Catholics in the north has no rights at all they were treated as peasant but worse they were beaten and shot for no reason this would have been going on when Gerry Adams was only a small boy, they tried peacefully protesting but they were swarmed and beaten by the RUC, so what should they have don’t stayed quite and done nothing, we are only being screwed financially down here now put yourself in that situation, no IRA man picked up a gun for the fun of it, SF were banned up the north, these men started a revolution against oppression, they were left with no other choice. Where was the Irish government ? I don’t condone any murders it is a pity the English decided to treat Irish Catholics like that. But if I was here my friends being shot, beaten when out peacefully protesting , burned out of their homes etc I would not hesitate to fight back if I had no alternative. I’m 22 wasn’t around for the troubles but I’m here now and I have done a bit of research and SF are the only honest credible party!
Ex SF councillor but me mentioning that is about as relevant to the story as you mentioning the marital status of the murderer of Gerry McCabe as would mentioning how a serving member of the Labour party is married to a convicted murderer/member of official SF who is now employed at our expense as an assistant.
Julie, what have your comments got to do with the IRA murdering a guard during a post office robbery in Adare in 1996?
I am just saying it was a revolution against oppression, mistakes were made innocent people were killed, it is unfortunate that man died it shouldn’t have happened . A lot more innocent people were killed by the British we need to be demanding apologise and explanations for them killings too
Keep reading
Paul, someone would want to ask all serving FFG/Labur party members, why they refused to pursue the murderers of Dublin/Monaghan … They colluded in the cover up, which makes them every bit as guilty as the murderers. Like i said above, there shouldn’t be a hierarchy of victims. We need a full National Truth and reconcilliation forum… but your party wont support it for some ‘unkown’ reason. Sick/twisted decision and policy if you ask me.
Complete rubbish Julie. The IRA did not ever command the support of the majority of the Catholic population in Northern Ireland and were ever only supported by a tiny fraction of the population in the Republic. They had no popular mandate for their actions in the North and definitely none in the Republic.
They were nothing more than common criminals who were engaged in a robbery when they murdered Jerry McCabe.
@ Paul if you want to start pointing fingers , to who’s married to who, then why not look to see who Kathleen Lynch TD is married to and the covering up in that. Her husband Bernard Lynch had been convicted of the murder of Larry White in Cork in 1975
@ Julie.. Excellent comment.. I agree 100% with you..
Julie
I’m glad you’re 22 and “here now” as you put it. I’m also glad hat you’ve done a bit of research as you also describe it! And on the basis of your age and your research you have concluded that Sinn Fein is the only credible Party in these our modern times.
Well God Bless your innocence and you might tell us where your research brought you. Did you find an explanation as to why a recently buried member of the IRA might have called Mr Adams as the Senior Officer who instructed her to drive a young mother across the Border to her execution and that the same man instructed her to commence a bombing campaign in London.
This is the same man who repeatedly denies any membership of the IRA and we are expected to accept his sincerity in apologizing for the thieving thugs who murdered a Garda in Adare while on “private business” and then later cloaked their murderous attack on this Society as a part of the Troubles.
Your Research young lady must have been extensive and your intellectual conclusions amazing!
Point of order here.
Why Richard are you so willing to accept the words of a recently deceased IRA member as truth?
Do you normally add credence to their words or is just convenient for you to believe them now?
Dermot
Do you believe Adams when he says he wasn’t a member of the IRA.
The organisation was stuffed to the gills with British informers who without exception claimed that Gerry was a Senior Officer in the IRA and his own former colleague Ms Price claimed the same with considerable additional detail. And you want me to believe who?
Dermot
Do you believe Adams when he says he wasn’t a member of the IRA.
The organisation was stuffed to the gills with British informers who without exception claimed that Gerry was a Senior Officer in the IRA and his own former colleague Ms Price claimed the same with considerable additional detail. And you want me to believe who?
Thanks for the insight Richard,
Do you know what I have noticed Richard, I have noticed every time I mention I am for SF I am attacked, called the unwashed masses, that I must be dealing on the black market some how because I am SF I am beneath people.
As for my research and conclusion that SF are the only party that I will support, the reason Richard is that, they are the only ones talking sense, why are we paying an illegal debt of 3 billion every year, why are we still putting up with corrupt politics( James Reilly ), why is Enda not getting debt written off, why is it the most vulnerable in society are being targeted. But good old Enda thinks he is doing a good job.
I am not concerned with this tit for tat that goes on when a SF article come up, I think the fact that Adams has called for a truth and reconciliation programme and the government reject it for no reason why ? Says enough for me. Why do they not want the truth but Adams does . Let that happen let the victims have answers and let people move on. They won’t because that know if that happens people might move on from the troubles and SF Wouk gain massive power.
Now it is 2013 4 years in to recession, I hear of children starving, old people dying in their homes, from the 1st to the 6th of jan 2 people a day took their lives, the amount of people homeless is shocking, soup kitchens opening, mass emigration, old people dying of the cold.
I have had ENOUGH its time for change, FF, FG lab not up to the job.
@Vincent.
I have no position on whether Adams was in the IRA or not, it’s irrelevant to me…If we all spent our time introducing politicians and political parties past in debates then we’d spent an awful lot of time talking about fascism, terrorism,criminality, theft, cronyism, racism and greed…and that’s just FG covered :P
I asked you the question because an awful lot are pinning their hopes on these “Boston tapes” as a way to finally discredit Gerry Adams and SF and how the words of a convicted IRA member has more credence than the words of man who denies it.
@Julie – I never attacked you when you mentioned you were a Sinn Féin member. I simply asked you what your comments (regarding the apparent reasons for the Troubles in Northern Ireland) got to do with the IRA murdering a neighbour of mine simply going doing his job during a post office robbery in Adare in 1996?
@Dermot – I agree with you, many politicians and political parties have shady pasts. Why is it irrelevant to you whether your party’s leader was in the IRA or not? The reason why Gerry Adams has been criticised here and elsewhere following his apology yesterday was that many people find it to be quite hollow, given his and his party colleagues’ actions towards Jerry McCabe’s killers. It was less than 4 years ago that Martin Ferris collected his two buddies Pearse McCauley and Kevin Walsh from Castlerea Prison, both convicted killers. This while he was a sitting TD. He later organised a fund raiser in Tralee for these two ‘POW’s’.
Why didn’t Adams condemn the murder earlier? I think his persistent flip-flopping on this issue says a lot about the integrity of the man, or lack thereof.
(Though granted, hyporcrisy is nothing new in politics – see for example statements by Michael Noonan in 2011 when he said that punishing “the blind, disabled, widows, carers and the unemployed… so that the taxpayer can take on liability for debts the country never incurred… what a disaster and an obscenity” only to go and continue with the same policies once he assumed office.)
James I was replying to Richards comment and I wasn’t saying anyone here attacked me I was merely saying that if you make a comment about supporting SF you do get attacked.
If ye are so against what was happening up the north why are ye not screaming for and asking yer government why they will not allow a truth and reconciliation program?
Sorry lad, I’ve no party affiliation so Mr Adams is not the leader of my party, I think you were suggesting that..?
But I probably will vote SF again as I’ve done before because unless the whole landscape here changes politically and we get a more credible party to vote upon I will never ever spoil my vote by voting for such inept, crooked imbecilic a***holes like FG or FF or Labour.
Apologies Dermot, I misunderstood one of your earlier comments when you said you were an ex-SF Councillor, I presumed by this that you’re an ex-Councillor who is still in Sinn Féin, but I take it from your clarification that you have now left the party?
Fair enough Julie. Have you got an answer to my question though, about what connection do the Civil Rights abuses of Nationalists in Northern Ireland during Gerry Adams’ childhood have with the killing of Jerry McCabe in Adare in 1996?
Can’t wait for the tapes owned by Boston College to be released to see how sorry Adams really is.
Delours Price RIP and other dissident republicans have always felt undercut by Adams because he went the route of peaceful democratic republicanism. I’m afraid to say the dogs on the street know the tapes are of a biased nature.
Give over, the contents of the tapes are widely known already.
Ollie is correct, dissident rebuplican’s were outraged that Adams became involved in the Good Friday Agreement and went down the negotiation route, they saw it as the ultimate betrayal of the republican cause, history has shown that he chose the right path,having said that, I am under no illusion as to the man’s history, but in addition, I would similarly question the motives of the statements given by those dissidents to Boston College, and their authenticity
No words could ever describe how this killing has affected this country. His killers are not worthy of life and hopefully they will be dealt with in the harshest form possible.
Killing a killer solves nothing.
The irony of calling for the killing of a killer is obviously lost on “Fools”. In loving Memory Oglach Hugh Hehir.
Credit where it’s due, it’s long overdue but nevertheless it’s very welcome.
Gerry Adams also went on to say, which you left out. I quote Gerry Adams : “Members of An Garda Siochána do a dangerous job. They take risks for all of us. Adrian Donohoe showed great courage when he confronted armed criminals at Lordship. He died in defence of other citizens.
“I want to appeal to anybody with any information about this crime to co-operate with the Gardaí or the PSNI.
“I hope that those responsible are speedily brought to justice.
“My thoughts and prayers are with Adrian Donohoe’s family and colleagues at this very difficult time.
“Ar dheis dé go raibh anam”
The full text of his speech in the Dail can be found on this link.http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/25535
If only he meant it.
No amount of apologetic words will make up for the loss but it was a brave apology I will say that of Gerry Adams. It was the right time I feel.
Patrick Lyons the Brit will fall off his chair when he reads this lol :)
Last I heard was he’s in trouble for trying to get the union jack knickers off his moth last night and she protested … Could be just a rumour.. I heard it on the Internet
Have to say I was surprised by this… It’s a very welcome step in the right direction, I, for one, am prepared to take it in the spirit I hope it was intended…
If Adams did not apologise then all the anti Irish FF+FG gimps go mad, if he does apologise they also go mad. Let’s hope Enda and the rest of them now let Gerry McCabe rest in peace and stop mentioning him in the Dail every time SF highlight government corruption.
Yeah. Gov TD’s should sit there and take lectures from a man with no moral authority what so ever…
Maybe now perhaps the FG.Lab coalition could continue in the spirit of sincerity and apologise for the pain and suffering caused as a result of their role in the troubles . Just off the top of my head , why dont they apologise to the family of Frank Stagg for the trauma inflicted when he was denied a respectful burial, his body instead being whisked away and buried in 6 foot of concrete by Special Branch? Reconciliation isnt a one way street
Strong and sincere words from Mr. Adams.
Mandela has said he never regretted any of his terrorist crimes including giving the nod for a church bombing that killed 19 people, and he is applauded for it.
Gerry says a few words of regret and he is slaughtered over it.
Gerry being an expert in slaughter
Adams got elected to the dail by topping the poll in Louth, where as Stephen kearon was rejected.
Is my mind play tricks on me or did you just compare Gerry Adams to Nelson Mandela? Holy Jesus Christ what next.. Martin Ferris to Bishop Tutu!!!
They always use that comparison Brian. I think it must be brainwashed into them by Gerry and Martin Mc.
Stephen is a prominent FF’er. Stephen got a directorship on a semi state, Stephen got appointed as a Peace Commissioner, Stephen got a job as an adviser to the FF Govt. Stephen hosted a website and charged 3250 for doing it and was quiet a topic on twitter over that.
A website hosting topic he never answers,just calls everyone a shinner if they question him
A terrorist saying sorry. Take it with a pinch of salt
Terrorist? What would you do if foreign soldiers invaded your town and shot dead innocent people? Fight back or sit down and take it?
Former terrorists or freedom fighters, depends on your point of view, have gone on to lead governments in many countries throughout the world. It is part of a process that you either like or dislike. Your vote can decide that.
Whatever you think of him Farmer Tom, he didn’t destroy as many lives as the current incumbents, Fine Gael and Labour, taking food off the family table
Gaius
While I welcome the late apology from Mr Adams I would take issue with your point “he didn’t destroy as many lives as the current incumbents,” No, he just had many lives taken away. As for taking food of the family table, what is the true cost of the 30yrs of criminality and murderous mayhem on this island? I would argue that the IRA campaign cost this island and its people dearly in lost lives opportunity, recession, unemployment, lack of investment and crippling taxes and interest rates in the 70s, 80s, and 90s with ordinary workers paying tax at 68% on modest earnings. I know FF/FG/ Lab cronyism and corruption didn’t help either, people have a short memory harking back to the Celtic Tiger era (was it so great, inflated prices, egos, Coke, and criminality at all levels from Banks to labourers ) which was only a flash in the pan. If the true cost to the country of the era of Troubles is ever fully calculated I think we will be very surprised. Thankfully that troublesome era is over, and hopefully the current recession will start to really ease soon and we can all move on and make this a better country for our children and grandchildren.
Ahhhh STEO, are you serious???? You are blaming the IRA for all the stagnant growth from the 1940′s through to the late 1990′s?
The IRA murdered less than 12 people in the South during that time period, while the British murdered almost 50, through car-bombings etc … and you are there claiming that it was the IRA?
FF armed the IRA, but FF are not to blame. FFG/Labour colluded in the murders of almost 50 people, they are not to blame … it was all the IRA?
The fact that refugee camps were set up all along the border in `1969/19670 to cater for all the Irish refugees burned/driven out of their homes (almost 10,000) were not to blame for the economy not improving between 1945 and 1998, it was all the IRA????
What are you smoking man …. ? I need some of that :D
Hi SteoG,
I am not an apologist for Gerry Adams or Sinn Féin. My point is that the number of lives that have been affected by the current government’s policies, outweighs the impact of regurgitating what politicians may or may have done in the 1970′s, and that is petty, when a TD criticises the current government, to hark back to 40 years ago, if there was wrongdoing, they will be brought to justice. The events that took place in Northern Ireland are too recent for mature reflection, if Adams was complicit in killing of people, what was his motive, right or wrong? What are Kenny, Noonan and Gimore’s motives, right or wrong, sure, they have no gun or weapon in their hands, but they sure aren’t interested in you and me, or our well-being
Gaius, that’s pathetic.
I take comfort from your disapproval as always O’Reilly, your loyalty to Fine Gael continues to drown us all
Cal
I suggest you read my post properly and refrain from putting words in my mouth. I enjoy reading your posts on a lot of subjects Cal, but like so many of my friends in the six counties when you talk about the IRA and SF you are blinded by your own bigotry.
My comments were in general about the island as a whole, so spare me your bleeding heart labels. The death and injury of all victims of the period was a terrible tragedy. We will start with your claim that the IRA killed 12 in the South that is rubbish, for a start, a cursory search gave me a straight figure of 38 and 7 of those were Security Forces see.
http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/cgi-bin/tab2.pl
So where are you getting 12 from?
Now for your conspiracy theory “FF armed the IRA” your evidence please never mind the republican innuendo, then your claim “FFG/Labour colluded in the murders of almost 50 people” again the evidence Cal put up or shut up.
Of course you’re going to infer “THE CONSPIRACY” I will point out that these theories have been investigated by many eminent Irish and international historians and no substantive evidence has emerged. Maybe you know better Cal being from the North, or are you sticking with the Loyalists on this one you Willie and Peter, well that would be a good sign for the future.
So Cal I will finish by pointing out that I was lucky enough to visit a number of countries during the period in question and that at that time there was a very negative perception of the island of IRELAND because of its troubles, remember this was before the internet, mobile phones and info overload. So you want to infer that the IRA’s campaign did not cost this island economically, well then, what was the peace dividend? Is it just coincidence that real investment only took place in post ceasefire Ireland? I suppose if today you were an international investor you would be investing in places like Syria, Egypt, Mali, would you? I don’t think so. By the way I don’t smoke or do illegal substances and I would advise you to lay off that stuff, it messes with the brain you know. ;-)
Whilst Adams apology is welcome. Would apology have occurred unless Garda Donahue was murdered in Adams consistency. Did he contact the McCabe or O Sullivan families before using his statement today?
Has any of the people that have used the death of their loved one to do nothing except make cheap political jibes to attack SF asked their permission to do it?
@Seamus. eh, no, when one of your loved ones is murdered by a bunch of (insert own word/words here), you really don’t need to ask their permission to condemn their actions!
They condemn their actions when the cant answer a question, they use it for their own political means, just like you see the sheep copying their school teachers on the journal, if they cared they would go ahead with the truth and reconciliation program, that Gerry Adams has called for , but they keep rejecting for some unknown reason.
Adams only wants a Truth and Reconcilation programme so that he can finally say that he was a member of the IRA and then get away with that statement in the light of everything else that would come out in such a programme.
As has already been pointed out this apology is only forthcoming because Adams has to condemn the murder of Garda Aidan Donohoe and he can’t do that without condemning the murder of Jerry McCabe at the same time because he would be on a political sticky wicket. This is nothing more than the politics of expediency from Adams and Sinn Fein.
Jim, do you not think that all the victims of the troubles should get their individual public apologies? That is the purpose of the National Truth and Reconcilliation program … Nothing else. Which families should get apologies and which ones shouldn’t, if we apply your logic?
Are the people who are calling for a National Truth and Reconcilliation Commission with an amnesty for perpetrators of violence?
If such a commission is set up, the only people to benefit will be the lawyers. Look at the various tribunals that have gone on over the last 20 years, at great expense to the State but without any punitive consequences arising from the evidence of wrongdoings given at them. Are you looking for more of the same?
I am all in favour of a National Truth and Reconcilliation Commission, so long as it’s it one where perpetrators of violence are punished. Otherwise no justice will be done and the only winners will be the lawyers.
Gerry says he wasn’t in the IRA, so why does he feel the need to apologise for anything?
David Cameron wasn’t on the streets of Derry for Bloody Sunday yet he apologised for what happened
Very true Paul and well done to me Cameron on that brave step. credit is due.
People with logic are angry now but when see the significance of this apology they will see the bug picture. One tiny step in the reconciliation process.
The ones that don’t are filled with hate that is consuming them whole or are playing a Machiavellian political game not too smartly.
Mr cameron
But the PM has overall responsibility for their Armed Forces, are you therefore conceding that Gerry Adams has over all responsibility for the IRA atrocities?
We shouldn’t forget what happened in the past, but I’m surprised at how many (especially FG supporters) are unwilling to forgive anything. People in the North, who suffered far more than any of us, have been willing to work together for a better future. Shame on all you sad cases!
Adams can f off, his weasel words are far too little, far too late. Uber Hypocrite.
If he genuinely wants to apologise then he needs to tell the full and complete truth about his sordid past.
His comrade Martin Ferris proudly collected the IRA cowards who killed Garda McCabe in cold blood, he then went on to organise fund raisers for these unrepentant thugs.
The only true statement Adams has ever made was ‘ they haven’t gone away’.
Stephen, any chance your party of standing up in the Dail and apologising to the people of Ireland for having armed the IRA in the first place…. This action lead to the IRA camaign from 1970 onwards… Do you feel guilty about it… Do you think Miceal Martin will stand up and make an apology to every single victim that dies as a result?
Speaking of weasels, what cowardly weasels sold the country down the drain so they could protect their own friends causing 600 suicides a year? Any apology from FF?
Stephen Kearon – FF http://storify.com/contact_ie/stephen-kearon-and-that-3250-bill-for-hosting-a-we
What about the FF cowards that sold the country down the drain to protect their banker and developer friends? Any apology for the 600 suicides a year ye are causing? Of course not, you weasel.
Stephen, it’s incredibly ironic for you to be speaking about hypocrisy. You’re in absolutely no position to criticise anyone for being hypocritical. Perhaps when you publicly acknowledge how FF (your pay-masters for many years) destroyed this country, then you’ll be in a position to talk about hypocrisy.
When Fianna Fáil supporters are fighting with Sinn Fein supporters its a bit like watching Rangers playing Linfield- it’s a good spectacle no matter who takes a kicking and you end up wishing both could lose.
I’m sick to the stomach at this man. You and those dirtbags both elected reps and hangers on in modern era FF, have sullied the names of lemass, Breen, Barry, omalley, davern, lynch etc. all good men respected by the ordinary folk of Ireland. Dirtbags of the highest order. What happened to Irish politics? Fianna Fáil is what happened.
I support neither party, Vincent =p
Political allegiances shouldn’t really come into things in a story like this. Adams has today offered more of an apology for what happened than he or SF have ever done before. Would people seriously prefer if he did not offer any sort of apology..ever?
I also support neither party, and nor do I support FG. We need to move past civil war politics and have a real choice of right vs left in Ireland. Not just Tweedledum and Tweedledummer.
Stephen Kearon, high profile member of FF, ex Govt. adviser to Min. Dick Roche, appointed as a director to Wicklow Port Co. Famous for charging Dick Roche 3250 for hosting a website.
I’ll take your righteous anger with a pinch of salt. Like many people I firmly believe If SF and FF went in to Govt. together and you got an appointment as a state adviser to that Govt. that you would be here defending Gerry and Ferris to the hilt. If SF appointed you to a job that you would be quoting Pearse and Tone. If the Chinese Communist Party appointed you, you would have a tattoo of Mao on your shoulder.
It really is hard to take you serious at this stage and as a tax payer I have no time for you.
Why the apology now? Are we about to find out something relating to the murder of Garda Adrian Donohue?
9 red thumbs in 10 mins…. Did I touch a nerve??
I’d say the only thing you’ve been touching is yourself.
“Why the apology now?” Political expediency is “why now”. He can’t condemn one murder without condemning the other.
@limofax..EXCELLENT retort there!! ; )
Wouldn’t you love that Jim. You wish, republicans have moved on but people like you are still in the past.
Gerry Adams has continually denied he was ever a member of the IRA! Tonight he apologises to jerry McCabe’s wife and family and to all Garda killed by that organisation, what i find very strange is that if Gerry Adams was never a member of the IRA why would he apologise for them! is this at last a confession of some sorts that Adams was telling lies all these years ? Surely not!!!
Stop liking your own comments golden.
Why didn’t he say it before? Means nothing now.
It means a road to reconciliation which the government should take note and support the process of reconciliation and this starts with tackling the British government on the aspect of their involvement in collusion regarding state sponsored murders of innocent catholic civilians on both sides of the partitioned island.
Gerry Adams has put politics aside in this apology. He has more to lose than gain for doing it.
Gerry Adams has brought politics front and centre. You sound like an NRA member in the US defending guns, trying to change the angle of conversation. Gerry Adams should have put politics aside 16 years ago when friends of his murdered a man in cold blood. Did Gerry Adams apologize now out of fear that this new band of Garda killers may have some history with the provos?
40 years for killing a gard, but a child abuser and other killers get less?? Should be atleast 20/30 yrs minimum. Shouldnt matter who died, the fact it was commited with purpose should be enough for long sentences. Fair play to adams though
Now that was unexpected.
Fair play to him. Even after all this time it took to apologise at least he did so. People have got to seriously move on and try to forgive. Hate and resentments will make a person extremely sick and bitter.
Really is too little too late.
Never waste an opportunity to grab headlines Gerry. No doubt SF ran the numbers and saw an upside. Garda GerrycCabe wasn’t killed in a conflict. Saying so makes the apology worthless…
Well you know Sinn Fein ae making people nervous when every story about them is a hit on the Journal..Nerrrrrrvous.
Typical slick words of a very sick Adams. He refers to the killing of Garda Jerry McCabe. Well, it was not a killing it was murder – a murder that Adams denied, at the time, that his gang had anything to do with. He apologises to’ the families of other members of State forces who were killed by republicans in the course of the conflict’ – there is a direct inference here that these crimes could be justified because his gang murdered as part of his idea of a conflict. The matter could be clarified if he was asked one question: were these murders crimes?
Knew your raw gob Would make a comment only comments you make is bout Dis republicans IRA SF Patrick the Brit like I said many time before you never condemn the loyalist unionist ?
What bout UVF UFF waiting outside catholic schools Shooting dead teens coming home from school waiting outside GAA clubs at night shooting people dead while out socialising what bout UDA RUC and British army we all know how brutal those bastards were come on condemn those Patrick the Brit
What a load of tosh !! Did he unequivocally condemn the criminal low-life thugs that shot Det Gda McCabe yet? Lets not forget they mowed him down whilst trying to rob a post office in the republic during a cease fire. Apologising for the hurt caused is easy – condemning the criminal perpetrators should also be but seems not to be for Adams et al
It took him a long, long time to say this- but it’s a step in the right direction.
I’d love to hear Adams come out with a condemnation of all the diesel laundering, counterfeiting and mafia criminality that seems to be run by so-called republicans in the border areas, and for him to address his own role in the killings and bully-boy tactics of these same ‘republicans’ over the last few decades.
There is a great opportunity for Sinn Fein to become a real force in Irish politics after the next election, but for that to happen, there will have to be a move towards democracy and away from an image of thuggery. It’s up to him to make that happen, otherwise SF will always be a niche party.
People have been making money off the border since the 1920s up to today.
Two economies one island,
let’s get rid of the border
I don’t understand why people see this as an apology. For somebody as semantically slippery as adams he knows the difference between “I want to” do something and “I” do something. There is a difference between I eat and I want to eat.
Adams waits 17 years before he issues a half-arsed apology, taking advantage of the murder of another garda to do so. He visited Jerry McCabe’s killers. He campaigned for them to be released. He said they weren’t in the IRA. He lambastes private medical care and uses it when it suits him. He flies the Atlantic first class. He claims to live on the average industrial wage and has a huge holiday home in Donegal. He pockets vast sums of tax free expenses on top of his 92,000 salary. He took £1m in expenses while an MP in Westminster where he refused to represent all his constituents. And he takes us all for fools by expecting us to believe a word he utters. Sadly, there are those only too wiling to be taken as fools by him. And they regularly display their stupidity here.
Like it or not people, this man has the potential to be our next leader. I will be voting SF in the next election. I’m not a massive fan particularly but what are the alternatives? I can’t imagine any other governments ever being worse than the shower we’ve got now.
There are some alternatives who didn’t support the massacre of Protestant workers in Teebane and Kingsmill as Sinn Fein did. There are some alternatives who didn’t murder gardai. There are some alternatives who didn’t plant no-warning car bombs.
Paddy, every party in the Dail has a history of murder, one side or the other. we are left with SF being the least evil, of an evil lot. That is sadly the truth.
Paddy Murray: the voice of righteousness. Never forget, never forgive. The law of the jungle.
Cal1 – and we all have a history of living in caves but in the main we”ve moved on and ‘censored’ if you think opposing murder, sectarian massacres and torture is being self righteous well then we will agree to differ. Just by the way why does Sing Fein (rightly) want an inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane if it’s moving on?
You claim to have “moved on” Paddy? Where is the evidence? – not here at any rate.
We have moved on in that some of us now believe murder is never justified and blowing innocent people to shreds is not the civilised way of putting a political argument. Do you think Fiona Doyle should have moved on?
Truly pathetic….perhaps his “no words of mine” ought to have been used in 1996 with “cease and desist” from murdering and plundering of innocent people with his private IRA army all for the”cause”. This truth and reconciliation lark should start with himself and his colleagues before he has the audacity to comment on anything else in the dail.
Hugely impressed with Adams words today. It can’t have been an easy thing to do given his life is still under threat from dissidents. He negotiated from the 1970s for a political solution to the troubles, negotiated off the radar with the government of John Major and then dragged the IRA to the negotiating table, eventually culminating in the Good Friday Agreement, an agreement we are all richer for having.
Sleveens and cutehoor TDs in the Dail please note how a real man of the people conducts themselves.
If there are hundreds of soldiers in barracks all around the country , why don’t they escort all cash in transit ?
And what pray tell about all the members of the police in Northern Ireland; is it any different for their children and wives, extended families and communities? What sort of ‘politics’ would have been any easier to dehumanise those murdered in the line of their lawful duties.
I do hope you’re not comparing the Gardaí to the RUC. Because the RUC were nothing more than a terrorist organisation themselves.
I really hope he is being sincere.
Whilst Adams apology has to be welcomed I doubt very much it would have occurred expect f
alls of snow in the mid-lands and sharp frost on higher ground.
RTE radio news at 7 pm carried the condolences of all party leaders EXCEPT Adams. That’s cause MSF weren’t due a party political broadcast…
Speaks volumes about RTE if they didn’t carry Adams condolences but I’m sure you also questioned why they omitted it.
Good on ya Gerry if anything it’s a big step forward ! take the apology as it it as it was !
They say truth is the first to die in war
Apologies have a half life…1996 is not today or yesterday
Please specify. You telling me FF, FG and Lab have in some way managed to avoid getting blood on their hand over the years? I for one have no disillusions about SF and alleged wrong doings but at least with today’s apology it’s goes some way into moving forward. The war is over my friend. Time for you to move on.
Too little, too late
where did my comment go? a valid point, beautifully articulated I thought.. FG complaints.?
Not sure what to make of this but I do object to the language describing State Forces being killed by republicans in the course of the conflict – does he not mean murders by gansters of Members of the Republican police service and the only legitimate Oglaigh na h-Eireann?
Your apology mr adams is NOT accepted. Actually the hypocrite that you are when I read it I did throw up in my mouth a little.
To wish bad on adams would only see my comment deleted but how about if I wish no good to ever come his way
have your say