Prison releases upset dead garda's family

The family of a Dublin-based garda who was murdered while on duty in 1984 was told by the Minister for Justice yesterday that there could be no deviation from the Belfast Agreement on the early release of paramilitary prisoners.

But Mr O'Donoghue is understood to be examining ways of giving greater support to victims of the Troubles and is likely to put proposals to that effect to the Cabinet today.

Mr O'Donoghue and two of his officials yesterday met Mr Michael Hand and Mr John Hand, brothers of Det Garda Frank Hand who was shot dead in an ambush in Co Meath. He was 27 and had married five weeks earlier.

Three IRA men, Tony Eccles, Patrick McPhillips and Brian McShane, were convicted of his capital murder and each sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation that they serve at least 40 years.

Mr Michael Hand said it had been made clear at the meeting with the Minister that the planned early release of paramilitary prisoners was "effectively a done deal". "We're being asked to swallow a hard pill for a second time. We had to lose Frank and now we're getting used to the idea that the people who did are going to walk free," he added.

But he said the Minister had promised to report back today on what steps might be taken to give greater recognition and support to the families of those killed.

Mr Hand said there had been no consultation with families like his own on the prisoner release issue. "There has been no support and no information of any kind for victims. I'm thinking particularly of my parents and Frank's wife, Breda. My main feeling at the present time is if we had been consulted and talked to in any meaningful way, we might have been let down slowly."

He said what had really got him "fired up" was seeing the Balcombe Street gang on television at the Sinn Fein ardfheis.