FORTY thousand people on the streets of Limerick, expressing revulsion at the murder of Det Garda Jerry McCabe. Disciplined lines of gardai walking in silent tribute behind their dead colleague. The country grieved, and recognised the debt that civilised society owes to its first thin line of defence.
It was a powerful message for the republican movement. When it came right down to it, there was no place for the IRA in this State. The weight of the people was unambiguously behind the forces of law and order. And Sinn Fein had better believe it.
Pressure for the reinstatement of the IRA's ceasefire intensified. There was no longer any talk of Sinn Fein being allowed into all party negotiations in Northern Ireland in advance of an IRA ceasefire. The unacceptable face of republicanism had been exposed to view.
And then came disturbing reports of murder inquiry suspects being treated in hospital for injuries received in custody.
Last Tuesday, Jeremiah Sheehy was found to have injuries to his body on being admitted to Portlaoise Prison. He had been committed the courts on charges of firearms offences and IRA membership. Photographs depicting Mr Sheehy's condition at the time were deeply upsetting.
On Wednesday, the Special Criminal Court in Dublin heard that John Quinn, an alleged IRA member, had been in hospital four times while in Garda custody in Limerick. His legal representative said he had complained of periods of unconsciousness and memory loss" as a result of injuries received.
Mr Quinn had to be helped to his seat in the court by two gardai and helped to stand to hear the charges read. And Mr Justice Morris was so concerned about this that he allowed him to sit.
THESE are not matters of minor importance. A senior Garda officer has already been appointed by Nora Owen to find out how Mr Sheehy came by his injuries. And the case of Mr Quinn is being monitored.
Unacceptable echoes from the past reverberate about these events.
That said, injuries can be self inflicted. And allegations of police brutality are the stock in trade of subversive organisations. They represent an attempt to equate the illegal activities of paramilitaries with the behaviour of the Garda. They are designed to undermine the rule of law. That is why even a whisper of the physical abuse of suspects cannot be tolerated. Nor need there be any such whispers, had any Government over the years concerned itself to implement the recommendations of the O Briain report which followed the Heavy Gang" saga of the 1970s. Remember for example, the committee's recommendation that every prisoner would have a "custodial guardian" who would account for their treatment in custody? Due process is imperative.
While the country grieved for the loss of Garda McCabe, there were reports of intensifying debate within the republican movement over future direction and strategy. The "hard men" of the IRA argued against a renewal of the ceasefire and decommissioning under the terms of the Mitchell report. Sinn Fein members pointed to the futility of the armed struggle as a means of achieving their political goals.
Intensive and heated debate was taking place, according to reliable sources. And President Clinton was throwing United States influence on to the ceasefire scales.
Within the past few days Gerry Adams has begun to raw parallells with the preceasefire period of August 1994, and to hint that there could be a repeat of that process. The Sinn Fein president went so far as to describe the killing of Garda McCabe as "totally and utterly wrong". And he "repudiated and renounced it."
It was as close to the word condemn as a Sinn Fein president has ever come in dealing with the actions of the IRA. And it was only possible because an IRA statement in the name of "P. O'Neill" had formally denied that any of its "units had been involved in the murder.
That statement was not accepted as accurate by gardai investigating the murder. The attempted robbery bore all the hallmarks of the IRA, they said. The weapons used and the incendiary devices recovered were standard issue. And the prime suspects were senior IRA members.
Six days after the murder, Paddy Culligan put the issue beyond doubt. The Garda Commissioner said he had no doubt whatsoever" that the dastardly crime had been committed by the IRA. And the Government acknowledged that his opinion was "absolutely authoritative" in the matter.
That development pointed up the difficulties the Government now finds itself in. It must as the British government did after last February's Canary Wharf bombing hold its nerve and persevere with the overall objective of ending violence and securing a political settlement in Northern Ireland. Inclusive dialogue in a peaceful atmosphere is a prize which could save thousands of lives in the long term.
But what value an IRA ceasefire statement when the most recent "P. O'Neill" offering has been discredited? Security sources were darkly distrustful and recalled that the original IRA ceasefire was meant to hold "in all circumstances", but didn't.
It's not an easy judgment for the Government. John Bruton spoke in the Dail of his personal disgust at the failure of Pat Doherty to condemn the murder of Garda McCabe. And he voiced his doubts about the commitment of Sinn Fein to democratic politics.
He found it very hard to understand "the mentality of a party, or an individual who stood for the Dail and who cannot bring himself to condemn the killing that occurred in Adare. It causes me deep unease," the Taoiseach said.
Fine Gael in spite of its impeccable law and order credentials is finding it difficult to concentrate on the big Northern picture, because of pressure from the public and the security forces. And the stresses on Dick Spring and Proinsias De Rossa are intense.
Mr Adams has hinted that an IRA ceasefire may not be too far away. He had better be right. Governments can only do so much to facilitate the metamorphosis of the republican movement into a constitutional political party.
The all party train is getting up steam in Belfast. If Sinn Fein isn't on board when it leaves the station, the faceless men of the IRA will have done a great injury to the Irish people.