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O'Sullivan did not instruct legal team over McCabe's dealings with senior officers, tribunal told

Summary

The Charleton tribunal heard that former Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan did not give instructions to her legal team regarding whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe's dealings with senior officers, because she lacked direct factual knowledge of the matters. The tribunal is examining whether O'Sullivan relied on unjustified grounds to discredit McCabe at the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation, which sat privately in 2015. McCabe had complained about policing matters and serious allegations against senior officers, including then Commissioner Martin Callinan. Michael McNamee BL and two other barristers represented O'Sullivan and senior officers before the Commission. McNamee said he had not read the Byrne‑McGinn report until June 2015 and that he had received a copy of the report and other documents, but never opened or read it. He also said that individual officers could identify themselves from code names used in a later report by barrister Sean Guerin SC, and that they could face allegations at the O'Higgins Commission.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: O'Sullivan did not instruct legal team over McCabe's dealings with senior officers, tribunal told. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• June 2015 Other
• 15 May 2015 Other
• Monday 18 May 2015 Other
• Friday 15 May Other
• 2018-01-26 Publication

Why: Credit: Collins) By Gerard Cunningham Former Garda commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan did not give instructions to her legal team in relation to the dealings of whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe with senior officers also represented by her legal team, because she did not have direct factual knowledge of the issues, the Charleton tribunal has heard. CNI source report

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Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report