BOTH Det Garda Jerry McCabe and Veronica Guerin had found themselves in the way of evil, merciless men, the presiding priest told a memorial Mass yesterday. It was held for Ms Guerin and the murdered detective, Garda McCabe, who were killed a year ago, the latter by the IRA.
In a hard hitting homily at the Mount Argus retreat centre in Dublin, Father Hilarion Cleary said he had visited the Garda team investigating the Guerin murder in Lucan and had seen "their gritty determination to pursue the case to the bitter end".
Those who "harbour the quite legitimate hope" of a united Ireland "must stand aghast and horrified at what has happened in our country over the past 28 years and particularly the last 12 months".
Father Cleary said Ms Guerin and Det Garda McCabe were "like Abel, hardworking innocent citizens of the highest religious character. Like Abel they were cut down without mercy by their fellow Irishmen."
Among his listeners were Ms Guerin's husband, Mr Graham Turley, and their son Cathal, who read one of the prayers of the faithful; Det Garda McCabe's widow, Mrs Ann McCabe; the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern; the Tanaiste, Ms Harney; the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue; the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr Brendan Lynch; the Mayor of Limerick, Mr Kieran O'Hanlon; and the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne.
Father Cleary also mentioned the murders of the Bellaghy GAA official, Mr Sean Brown, shot dead by loyalists, and RUC Constables Roland Graham and David Johnston, killed by the IRA. Such crimes "cry out to heaven for vengeance. But not only that - they have created a backlash of anger and revulsion throughout the country."
This "natural anger" had prompted a "massive counterattack" by the authorities.
"A whole sea change of attitude" had taken place, with every Government agency from gardai to the Revenue authorities uniting in the "common objective to rid our country once and for all of those who through subversion or the drug trade would dare to hold our people to ransom."
The large congregation, including many gardai, applauded.
Mr Byrne told the congregation that the deaths of Det Garda McCabe and Veronica Guerin "marked a turning point in the fight against crime in this country. Respect for the law and freedom of speech, essentials of liberty in a free society, came under attack when two people, committed to the preservation of peace and justice, were murdered."
Speaking to reporters before the Mass, Mr Ahern said the two murders had "changed the attitude of the public and the administration in looking at the crime situation."
His Government would "continue to improve the situation of the legislation to deal in a far tougher way with criminal activity." This would be one of the first things the new Minister for Justice would be "getting down to".