presumed IRA Jail escapers won't be extradited

[welshmann]

Two men who shot their way out of Brixton prison in London in 1991 while awaiting trial on IRA charges will not be prosecuted.

The Crown Prosecution Service said there was "no realistic prospect" of convicting Pearse McAuley and Nessan Quinlivan.

The move was announced as McAuley from Strabane, County Tyrone, was released from prison in the Irish Republic.

Two other suspected IRA men will also not be pursued.

The CPS said it had advised the Metropolitan Police that it would no longer be seeking the extradition of the four men from Ireland: Nessan Quinlivan, Pearse McAuley, Andrew Martin and Anthony Duncan.

It said it had considered evidence as well as the likely arguments which would be put forward by the defence, who would argue that an abuse of process had occurred so a trial could not go ahead.

The CPS said one of the probable defence arguments it considered was "statements made by ministers in respect of terrorists on the run."

Having reviewed the cases, the CPS decided there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.

Bombs

This means that an extradition can no longer go ahead and the extradition requests to the Irish authorities will be withdrawn.

Before their escape Nessan Quinlivan and Pearse McAuley were being held for conspiracy to murder the brewer Sir Charles Tidbury and conspiracy to cause explosions.

Attempts to return them to England for trial stretch back to the mid-1990s.

On Wednesday McAuley was freed from Castlerea prison where he had served a sentence for killing Detective Garda Jerry McCabe during an armed raid on a post office van in County Limerick, in 1996.

Anthony Duncan was wanted for questioning over bombs attached to bicycles in Brighton and Bognor Regis in 1994.

Andrew Martin was wanted on bomb making offences and conspiracy to cause explosions.

He was identified as a suspect in 1995 and arrested in 1998. In 2001 he was successful in appealing against extradition.

Sinn Fein have welcomed the move, but Jim Allister of Traditional Unionist Voice described it as "nothing short of outrageous".

Jeffrey Donaldson of the DUP said Ulster Unionist Party policies had led to the move.

"These terrorist criminals who shot their way out of Brixton Prison are now enjoying the benefits of policies enacted by David Trimble and Reg Empey.

"Thanks to the Belfast Agreement, which the UUP negotiated and implemented, terrorists were released from prison and even if these men were extradited and convicted it is likely that they would never serve a day in jail."

Sir Reg described Mr Donaldson's criticism of the UUP as "absurd" and called for the CPS to present the detailed reasoning behind their decision.

[tyovan]

On Wednesday McAuley was freed from Castlerea prison where he had served a sentence for killing Detective Garda Jerry McCabe during an armed raid on a post office van in County Limerick, in 1996.

Only 13 years for murdering a Garda?!

[Irish]

Only 13 years for murdering a Garda?!


Scum of the earth..Cnuts are laughing at us!..they served most of their "time" in an open prison where they had conjugal rights and could order out!!!

[tyovan]

Did they get such a lenient sentence because of GFA, or is that just typical sentencing for murderers in RoI??

[Irish]

Did they get such a lenient sentence because of GFA, or is that just typical sentencing for murderers in RoI??


GFA...unfortunately ...:roll:

[futurepilot2004]

GFA...unfortunately ...:roll:

More like because the conviction was for manslaughter. Shinners were trying to get them released under the terms of the GFA but were unsuccesful.

[tyovan]

How'd they only get convicted for manslaughter?

Here the very fact that they attacked and robbed the Post would probably have gotten them more than 13 years.. and killing a cop while committing a felony would have gotten them a needle in most places in the US.

[tea drinker]

How'd they only get convicted for manslaughter?

Here the very fact that they attacked and robbed the Post would probably have gotten them more than 13 years.. and killing a cop while committing a felony would have gotten them a needle in most places in the US.
There's no need to brag mate!

I think we got rid of the death penalty in the 50's or so. They must have some defence if they got away that light, though hard to see what it was.
THere are people getting life sentences here, but how long they really serve... it's getting shorter and shorter. It's a real problem, especially when you know it's a repeat offender.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20060604/ai_n16456369/

DETECTIVE Garda Jerry McCabe fitted a new engine in his killer's car just six months before he was assassinated on a Limerick Street.
McCabe was helping out mechanic pal Chris O'Neill when evil Kevin Walsh brought his car into the garage for a service.
He even joked with Walsh when he was unable to pay up for the job, teasing him that he would know where to find him.
Six months later a gang led by Walsh rammed Jerry McCabe and partner Ben O'Sullivan's car as they waited to escort a post office van at Adare in Limerick.
A number of men got out of the jeep and one fired 15 rounds from a Kalashnikov rifle into the unmarked car at the two men.

Ben O' Sullivan survived the attack but Detective McCabe was killed instantly by a bullet through the back that severed his spine and penetrated his heart.
In a special documentary to mark the 10th anniversary of the attack which took place on June 7, widow Ann McCabe vows to continue to fight for justice for her husband.
And in an interview Ben O'Sullivan recalls the dreadful attack which he says will never leave his dreams.
Amazingly, in Murder on Main Street, it is also revealed how both Ben and Jerry knew their killer. As a youngster, Walsh was once part of a junior tug-of-war team trained by Ben O'Sullivan. And just a few months prior to the Adare raid, his car had been fitted with a new engine by Jerry McCabe.
McCabe often helped out at a friend Chris O'Neill's garage as a hobby and was there the day Walsh came in for the service.
"Jerry McCabe was a friend of mine and he used to do work for me," says O'Neill.
"There was nothing he couldn't do with engines or anything electrical. He had a brilliant brain and in truth he was probably more interested with mechanics than he was with the Garda.
"One day this man came in looking for a new engine. Jerry put the engine in the car. Every time this man came in he was always followed by a Special Branch car.
"I asked Jerry about him and he said to me, 'that's Kevin Walsh. He is head buck cat of the IRA around here'. That was the same man who shot Jerry six months later."
When Walsh returned for his car he hadn't enough money to pay for it but Jerry joked with his future killer telling him he could 'fix him up' another time. According to the documentary, he told Walsh: "After all. We know where to find you."
Ann McCabe gives a loving account of her beloved husband saying that as long as people will not condemn the killing she will continue to fight for justice for her husband.
"It has been 10 hard years of fighting for justice but no matter how long it takes I will continue to do that. As long as there are those who refuse to condemn, I will bear public witness. Even if it is my last breath." She tells how she recently wrote to Sinn Fein TD Martin Ferris looking to interview him about the circumstances surrounding her husband's death, but he claims he knows nothing about it.
Footage will also be shown of the mother of four confronting Gerry Adams in New York in March this year during a Sinn Fein rally and asking him to name the person who sanctioned the raid.
"I didn't ever envision myself in the same room as Gerry Adams. I asked him a question, I didn't expect an answer and I didn't get one. But I felt much better myself, a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
"I hope that Jerry is up there looking after me and I know he would be very proud of me. It took courage to confront the President of Sinn Fein IRA - the man who knows so much," she said.
"I had a loving relationship, a marriage and a friendship. The happiness he brought into the house was incredible.
"He was always happy and we will never get over it. There wasn't a day that went by that he wasn't loving and full of emotion.
"He was very happily looking forward to his retirement. He was going to start servicing electric showers and he enjoyed that.
"I am due to be 60 now soon and it should be a time in my life that I am enjoying. But I am not. I am not looking forward to it one bit without Jerry."
Ben O'Sullivan says he will never recover from the events of the day his best pal was killed beside him.
"A day hasn't passed that I don't think of it. That morning will never leave my dreams - never," he adds.
Shocking photographs of Detective Garda McCabe lying dead in the car are to be used in the documentary which traces the fate of the four men convicted of his manslaughter.
They are currently incarcerated in Castlerea Prison and are due for release within two years.
True Lives - Jerry McCabe: Murder on Main Street will be shown on Tuesday, June 6 at 10.15pm on RTE1.

[futurepilot2004]

There's no need to brag mate!

I think we got rid of the death penalty in the 50's or so. They must have some defence if they got away that light, though hard to see what it was.
THere are people getting life sentences here, but how long they really serve... it's getting shorter and shorter. It's a real problem, especially when you know it's a repeat offender.


It was only technically got rid of it in 1990.Last execution was in 1954.
It was a farce that they werent charged with murder.