Tributes have been paid to the family of a garda officer killed by the IRA 30 years ago

Detective Garda McCabe was on duty with his partner Detective Ben O’Sullivan on June 7, 1996 when the van they were escorting stopped at Adare.

The patrol car pulled up close by and as the van driver prepared to unload the mail, a Provisional IRA unit crashed a Jeep at full speed into the rear of the detectives’ unmarked patrol car.

Another vehicle arrived at the scene and its occupants opened fire on the Garda car, killing Detective Garda McCabe and seriously wounding Mr O’Sullivan, who was shot around a dozen times but survived.

In 1999, four men were convicted of manslaughter for the killing of Mr McCabe.

Kenny Donaldson, director of Lisnaskea-based South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF), highlighted how Jerry’s widow, Ann, has shown “authentic courage” since the tragic killing of her husband.

"The McCabe's are a special family who have acted with honour and integrity ever since the brutal murder of Jerry 30 years ago by Provisional IRA terrorists,” he said.

"We have been blessed to have known the family over the last 12-13 years and to have been a small part of their journey. Jerry's widow Ann is a lady who has demonstrated a form of raw and authentic courage, rarely seen. Ann and the wider McCabe family are respected across this Island and much further afield.

"The attack which resulted in the brutal murder of Jerry McCabe and the serious injuries sustained by his colleague and friend Ben O'Sullivan (who passed away in 2022) was an act that shocked the community, there was revulsion.

"It was not a political murder - it was a criminal murder motivated by a terrorist ideology, by subservices who neither recognised Northern Ireland nor the Irish State. The aftermath of the murder however was highly political and many in all forms of office should reflect upon their behaviours at that time and in subsequent years, and this further added insult to the pain which the McCabe and O'Sullivan families were experiencing.”

An anniversary mass will be held on Sunday (June 7) at the Holy Rosary Church, Ennis Road, Limerick, in memoriam of Jerry.

Mr Donaldson concluded: "We proudly remember Garda Jerry McCabe on our memorial quilt - Terrorism knows No Borders. Jerry's widow Ann poignantly requested that the following words be stitched below his name and the An Garda Siochana badge - 'My husband died for Ireland, it not his choice.'

"Jerry's son and also grandson have followed in his footsteps in becoming serving members of the Garda - the commitment of the family to serving the community is a cornerstone of their values system.

"We will continue to do what we can in support of the family - they are part of the larger family of SEFF, and many people from across the community hold them dear in their hearts.”