The death of Jerry McCabe will be regarded as a watershed in the history of the fight against crime in Ireland, "for his killing challenged the bedrock of democracy".
So said the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, when he unveiled a life-sized bronze bust at the Henry Street Garda station of the late detective garda who was murdered three years ago by the IRA at Adare, Co Limerick, when he was on duty protecting a van delivering cash to the local post office.
The Commissioner said that June 7th, 1996, was indeed a dark day for democracy as well as for the Garda Siochana and especially for Mrs Anne McCabe, his widow, and family, and for Det Garda Ben O'Sullivan, his colleague, who was seriously injured in the shooting.
Mr Byrne said he was grateful to the people of Limerick for their association and co-operation with the Garda, whom they approached "with unprecedented determination and vigour in the defeat of evil".
Mrs Anne McCabe, speaking at a function later, attended by more than 600 retired and serving gardai as well as sponsors of the event, said: "The real value of this beautiful bust is that it allows us all to remember Jerry the man. It is my belief that this is how he would like his friends and colleagues in the Garda to remember him".
The names of the 31 gardai who died in the execution of their duty were read out in a ceremony during the blessing of the bust at the station where Jerry McCabe had served.
Det Garda Ben O'Sullivan, who placed his colleague's cap at the base of the memorial, said: "It makes me feel good to see that I am not forgotten. For 32 years I came to work here and enjoyed your company and the challenge of the job.
"I had," he said, "five years to run and I had great plans."