Ann McCabe leads tributes as retired Limerick detective Ben O'Sullivan passes away
TRIBUTES have been paid to retired Detective Ben O'Sullivan who has died in Limerick at the age of 76.
Mr O’Sullivan survived an IRA gun attack in Adare 26 years ago which resulted in the death of his colleague Detective Jerry McCabe.
Detective McCabe’s wife Ann paid tribute to Mr O’Sullivan this Friday morning recalling his fortitude in getting on with his life after the horrific crime in Adare that took the life of his good friend.
“When I think about what Ben survived and the things that happened to him since the day he was almost murdered and Jerry was murdered, because murder is murder in my book,” Mrs McCabe told the Limerick Leader.
“You have to be strong to survive that. He said at one time that he spent enough time thinking about it and he was going to move on, and he did. But I’m sure it never left his mind because he was so close to Jerry. Where you saw Jerry, you saw Ben. I did get an awful shock when my son rang me this morning to say he had passed away. My heartfelt sympathies to his wife Anne and family,” she added.
Detective McCabe was shot dead and Detective O'Sullivan was seriously wounded in the attack on the morning of June 7, 1996. They were accompanying a post office cash van when they were attacked by an IRA gang of four men.
Four men were subsequently given prison sentences for the attack.
Detective O'Sullivan was given the Freedom of Limerick in June 2018 and it was awarded posthumously to Detective McCabe.
He said it was an honour he would cherish for the rest of his life and said he "only wished that his dear friend could have been with him to accept it".
Minister of State Niall Collins said the late retired Detective Ben O’Sullivan was a man of “quiet dignity” and “immense strength of character”. He expressed his condolences to his wife and children.
“Mr O’Sullivan’s life sadly was forever entwined with his late garda colleague Jerry McCabe and the despicable events that took place in Adare 26 years ago. Only Mr O’Sullivan and his family will know the effect that black day had on him. He bore it with a quiet dignity and displayed immense strength of character that is rare. Throughout his life he honoured the memory of his late friend who lost his life while protecting the State. May he rest in peace,” said Mr Collins.
The flag is flying at half-mast at Henry Street garda station in Limerick today and a book of condolence has been opened there.
Limerick Chief Superintendent Gerry Roche paid tribute to the retired detective as a "Scott medal recipient, an inspiration, a garda hero and a gentleman".
Detective O'Sullivan had been ill for a short time. He is survived by his wife Anne, his son and three daughters.