THE GRAVE of Det Garda Jerry McCabe, who was shot dead in Co Limerick last year, has been vandalised for the second time in a week. Investigating gardai say they are keeping an open mind about who is responsible.
The head stone of the grave at Mount St Oliver Cemetery in Limerick city was knocked from its base over the weekend, although not broken. It had been returned to its place after a similar act of vandalism last Wednesday night.
The attack occurred on Saturday night or early Sunday, according to gardai, who described it as a "despicable act."
Mrs Ann McCabe was at a commemoration Mass in Kerry for her husband over the weekend and learned of the incident yesterday morning. After visiting the grave yesterday, she said that she could not describe her feelings. Her family were "shocked" and "devastated" and did not think it could happen a second time. She could not comprehend who would do such a thing, she said.
Det Garda McCabe and a colleague, Det Garda Ben O'Sullivan, were escorting a post office delivery truck in Adare, Co Limerick, on June 7th last, when there was an attempted armed robbery. Det Garda McCabe (52) was fatally wounded in the attack and his colleague received serious injuries.
The dead garda was the father of five children. The then Garda Commissioner, Mr Patrick Culligan, said there was no doubt he had been killed by the IRA.
A Limerick Democratic Left councillor, Mr John Ryan, condemned the attack on the grave and said Jerry McCabe was a hero in Limerick. The people of the city were "outraged" that such a thing could have happened to a memorial for a man who was a friend of the city, an outstanding garda and a loving family man.