'Immediate crisis of trust' in Garda Commissioner

Serious questions remain for the Commissioner over attempts to undermine Garda whistle blower Maurice McCabe at the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation in Garda malpractice, the Dáil heard tonight.

Last week, the Irish Examiner revealed that documents to the O’Higgins inquiry showed Ms O’Sullivan's legal team claimed Sgt Maurice McCabe was motivated by “malice” when he highlighted malpractice in the force — while praising his actions in public.

It was confirmed tonight that the barrister representing the Garda Commissioner,Colm Smyth, told the head the Commission of Inquiry Judge Kevin O'Higgins that his “instructions at all times were to challenge the motivation and credibility of Sgt McCabe” but said this was “in relation to the corruption and malpractice allegations".

However, he added that “it was an error on my part” when he said earlier he was to challenge Sgt McCabe’s “integrity”.

Last night in the Dáil, Independents for Change TD Mick Wallace said only for Sgt McCabe recording the meeting, the Judge would have had to believe the two officers and he “would have been destroyed.”

His colleague Clare Daly, under privilege, called on Ms O'Sullivan to go and warned Tánaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald to abandon her or risk her own position.

“It is time for this commissioner to go and unless you act, she's going to take you with her,” she said.

“The issue is that the Garda Commissioner's legal team allegedly on her instruction, attempted to deliberately mislead the Commission by entering false information in order to challenge the motivation and credibility of Maurice McCabe,” Ms Daly told the Dáil.

“There is now an immediate crisis of trust and confidence in the Garda Commissioner,” the Dublin Fingal TD said.

Ms Fitzgerald said she was precluded from commenting on the media reports, and said partial leaking from the O'Higgins report was “unfortunate” and “illegal”.