President, Taoiseach at State funeral of murdered detective in Limerick

THE President, Mrs Robinson, the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, and the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, attended the State funeral of murdered Det Garda Jerry McCabe yesterday morning.

The Church of the Holy Rosary in Limerick had filled 20 minutes before the funeral Mass started and a large congregation gathered in silence outside. Father John Daly, a friend of the McCabe family, conducted the Mass.

Det Garda McCabe's widow, Ann, and five children, John, Mark, Ian, Stacey and Ross, walked from the palace of the Bishop of Limerick, Dr Donal Murray, opposite the church shortly before 11 a.m. Stacey (17) carried a framed colour photograph of her father into the church.

They sat with Det Garda McCabe's father, John, his four sisters, Eileen, Marie, Kay and Nuala, and his brother, Michael.

The wife and family of injured Det Garda Ben O'Sullivan also attended. They had remained with the McCabes for the removal on Sunday night. Det Garda McCabe's coffin was draped in a Tricolour and a Garda hat was placed on top.

The Minister for Social Welfare, Mr De Rossa, the Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, and the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Mr Lowry, also it tended the funeral Mass. Mrs Owen was accompanied by Minister of State Ms Joan Burton. The Limerick Lord Mayor, Mr Jim Kemmy TD, was also present.

The congregation included the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, the Progressive Democrats' spokeswoman on justice, Ms Liz O'Donnell, and the former Justice Minister, Mr Des O'Malley. The Army was represented by the Chief of Staff, Lieut Gen Gerry McMahon, and the General Officer Commanding, Southern Command, Gen James O'Farrell.

The Garda was represented by the Commissioner, Mr Patrick Culligan, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, and other senior assistant and regional commissioners. Hundreds of gardai attended in full uniform and a delegation of students from Templemore led the funeral guard.

The Garda Choir sang the hymns and four bugle players from the Garda Band played the Royal Salute during the Mass.

Classmates of Stacey McCabe from Salesian Secondary School attended in their school uniforms. They had just finished their Leaving Certificate Irish paper earlier.

Father Daly spoke of a "great feeling of anger and revulsion" over the murder. "There is a great hunger and thirst for peace in our land," he said. He talked about the "unspoken tribute" of neighbours walking to the McCabe house with trays of food in the days since the murder. They felt helpless, with a deep longing to be of help in some way.

He described Det Garda McCabe as a devoted husband and a man who lived for his family. "It is appropriate today to show our appreciation for the work and bravery of the Garda Siochana." He said Det Garda McCabe had demonstrated how the law could provide a sense of freedom to enjoy life.

The Taoiseach left before the Mass ended to fly to Belfast for the opening of the multi party talks. As he left, the congregation applauded him. "Our prayers go with you", Father Daly said.

Det Garda McCabe's brother in law, Mr Pat Carney, a former garda, gave a tribute. He said he had been asked to do it just before the funeral, "so I speak from the heart rather than a script.

He was best man at my wedding 30 years ago and I was best man at his wedding the following year. With typical ingenuity and cunning, he arranged the wedding for the day of the dreaded Commissioner's inspection."

Mr Carney described Det Garda McCabe as a devoted member of the gardai. "He worked hard and was proud of his work".

He said the picture of the dead man used in the media "epitomised Jerry. He was talking and smiling at the same time."

Det Garda McCabe's son, John, a garda based in Monaghan, talked about the past few days of "sorrow and anguish we will never forget". He thanked friends, priests, his father's colleagues, and the US ambassador, Mrs Jean Kennedy Smith, who called to the family home on Sunday night. "Our prayers and thoughts are with Ben today", he said.

Dr Murray said the final prayer. Muirne Hurley, a daughter of one of Det Garda McCabe's colleagues, sang a Mary Black song, Nadine.

Led by the Garda Band, the procession through Limerick to Mount St Oliver Cemetery was watched by crowds of people on the streets. Shops and pubs closed and hundreds of gardai marched behind the family cars, led by Commissioner Culligan.

The coffin was carried from the hearse to the grave by six uniformed gardai who worked with Det Garda McCabe. The Garda bugle players played The Last Post and the Reveille and the coffin was lowered. The Tricolour and Garda hat from the coffin were handed to Garda McCabe's son.

A book of condolences will be opened in all main post offices today for customers and staff wishing to express their sympathy with the family, friends and colleagues of Det Garda McCabe, murdered while protecting a member of An Post's staff in Adare, Co Limerick, on Friday.