FAMILY and colleagues of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe gathered outside his station to mark 25 years since he was killed by the IRA during an attempted robbery.
Colleague Detective Garda Ben O'Sullivan, who was seriously wounded in the attack, was among those who attended the commemoration at Adare Garda Station in Limerick.
A wreath was laid by Ann McCabe, who also gave a speech to honour her late husband.
Also there were Minister for Justice Heather Humphreys and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris who delivered speeches.
The father-of-five was in an unmarked patrol car that was struck from behind at full speed by a vehicle driven by IRA members as it escorted an An Post cash delivery truck just before 7am in the town.
Five more members of the gang arrived in another vehicle and opened fire on the Garda car, killing Detective Garda McCabe and seriously wounding Detective Garda O'Sullivan.
In 1999, four men were convicted of manslaughter for the killing.
Pearse McCauley and Kevin Walsh received a 14 year sentence, Jeremiah Sheehy received a 12 year sentence while Michael O'Neill was jailed for 11 years.
A fifth man, John Quinn, was jailed for six years for conspiracy to commit the robbery.
Mrs McCabe told the Sunday Independent: "I can't believe it's been 25 years, it feels like it happened yesterday.
"Without the support of my family and friends and An Garda Síochána, I don't know how I would have got through it."
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it was an "ambush... (which) shocked us all".
"This country will never forget his sacrifice, a constant reminder of the dangers our gardai face in the line of duty," he said.
"My thoughts are with his widow Ann, family, friends and colleagues today."
Two of the IRA members, understood to be living in Spain and Venezuela, are still wanted in connection with Garda McCabe's death.
His wife said attempts to extradite the "on the run" pair are continuing.
"Hopefully, some fine day, gardaí might get them back. I want justice not just for Jerry and Ben, but for all members of An Garda Síochána, who put their lives at risk every day they go out to work," she told the paper.
Mrs McCabe asked for "people, including Sinn Féin members" who know where they are to "come forward now".
"They say time is a healer, but my life ended that day too."
