The Dáil’s heard claims that the Garda Commissioner contacted journalists and made allegations that sexual crimes had been committed by the whistleblower sergeant Maurice McCabe.
Labour leader Brendan Howlin says the matters are to be the subject of a Commission of Investigation into an alleged smear campaign announced by the government yesterday.
He called for Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan to “stand aside” while the inquiry takes place – the Taoiseach responded that there are no findings of wrongdoing against the Commissioner and the Government stands behind her.
Deputy Howlin says a journalist told him this morning of alleged phone-calls from the Garda Commissioner:
Meanwhile, we’ll find out later how far the inquiry can go into the treatment of Garda whistleblowers.
Sergeant Maurice McCabe had alleged there was Garda mismanagement in the Cavan/Monaghan division.
The scope of the forthcoming commission of investigation, which will examine his claims, will hinge on an initial report by a retired judge also to be released today.
Niall O’Connor is a reporter with the Irish Independent, he says both the former and current Garda Commissioners deny the allegations of a smear campaign against Sergeant McCabe.
