McCabe, Jeremiah Desmond

jmccabe

Name:McCabe, Jeremiah Desmond

Rank:Detective Garda

Reg No:15860G

Station:Henry Street, Limerick

Years of Service:31

Background:
Jeremiah (Jerry) McCabe, born on 22nd November, 1943, came from Bridge Street, Ballylongford, Co. Kerry. Having worked previously as a mechanic he joined An Garda Síochána on 9th September, 1964. On 21st May, 1973, he was appointed to the Detective Branch. He was married with five children. He also served at two other Limerick stations (O’Curry Street; William Street) and at Dundrum, Co. Tipperary. Detective Garda McCabe was posthumously awarded the Scott Gold Medal on 6th July, 2000.

Circumstances:

On the morning of 7th June, 1996, Detective Garda McCabe and a colleague, Detective Garda Ben O’Sullivan, were on duty escorting a post office truck on its cash delivery at Adare, Co. Limerick. Both Gardai were armed. Just before 7 a.m. the truck stopped at Adare and the patrol car pulled up close by. As the truck driver prepared to unload the mail, a Provisional I.R.A. Unit crashed a jeep at full speed into the rear of the detective’s unmarked patrol car. Within seconds five additional gang members, in another vehicle, arrived at the scene and opened fire on the Garda car, killing Detective Garda McCabe and seriously wounding Detective Garda O’Sullivan.