McCabe killer due to leave prison

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An IRA member jailed for killing Irish police officer Jerry McCabe is to be released from prison.

Michael O'Neill was jailed for 11 years for the manslaughter of Detective McCabe during an attempted robbery outside Adare Post Office in June 1996.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said O'Neill will be released in May.

He said he was not being given early release, but under prison rules he was entitled to a maximum remission of a quarter of his sentence.

In December 2006, two other members of the four-strong gang jailed for killing Detective McCabe lost their bid to be released from prison.

Pearse McAuley and Jeremiah Sheehy, who are serving 14 and 12 years, had claimed the detention breached their human rights.

Their lawyers argued the government breached their rights under the Irish Constitution, the Good Friday Agreement and the European Convention.

However, their application was dismissed at Dublin's High Court.

The killing of Garda McCabe happened four months after the breakdown of the first IRA ceasefire in 1996.

Initially the IRA denied any involvement, but it later admitted that individual members were involved "in contravention of its orders".