Thousands wait hours to pay their respects to McCabes

THE Tanaiste, the Minister for Justice, hundreds of gardai and thousands of local people paid their respects to the family of Det Garda Jerry McCabe at the removal of his remains in Limerick last night.

The removal to the Church of the Holy Rosary was due at 8 p.m., but at 10 p.m. people were still continuing to press into the funeral home from where the removal was taking place. "You have to let everyone inside", one garda said.

The queuing had started at about 7 p.m. when another funeral was finishing. The queue moved less than 20 feet in the first hour. Most people had to stand for at least two hours at the biggest removal the city had seen in more than 20 years.

Mr McCabe's widow, Ann, arrived with their children shortly after 8 p.m. She was helped inside Thompson's funeral home by a family friend.

The wife of injured Det Garda Ben O'Sullivan also attended the removal with her children. They stayed with the McCabe family for much of the time.

Before the family arrived, the US ambassador, Mrs Jean Kennedy Smith, paid her respects. Minister of State Ms Joan Burton accompanied the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, and they spent 15 minutes with the family.

The Garda was represented by the Garda Commissioner, Mr Patrick Culligan, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, and the Assistant Commissioner for the area, Mr Martin McQuinn.

Regional commissioners and hundreds of gardai from all over the State were also present.

The crowd included three former Ministers for Justice - Mr Gerard Collins, Mrs Maire Geoghegan-Quinn and the Minister for Health, Mr Noonan. Mr Collins said he knew Det Garda McCabe and Det Garda O'Sullivan - both had driven for him when he was Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.

The local Labour TD, Mr Jim Kemmy, also attended.

Mr McCabe's colleagues in the Special Branch waited outside to flank the coffin. A funeral party of 50 student gardai from Templemore stood to attention at the top of the street until it was clear it would take hours for the thousands of people to pay their respects.

The driver of the postal lorry, Mr William Jackson, who was in the back of the lorry when the fatal shots were fired, spoke to detectives outside.

As the evening wore on and the rain held off the crowd continued to wait. Some were friends of the family, others knew Jerry McCabe to see. There were those who had never met him but wanted to say something just by being there.