Courts / Ireland / Report
Journalist not briefed negatively about McCabe
2018-06-11
Hearing Or Decision
Summary
In the Charleton tribunal, Sunday Times investigative journalist John Mooney testified that he was never briefed negatively about Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe. He said that former Garda press officer Superintendent David Taylor had alleged that he was directed to smear McCabe, but Mooney denied receiving any negative briefings or instructions to do so. Mooney noted that former commissioners Martin Callinan and Nóirín O'Sullivan denied any smear campaign and that the Director of Public Prosecutions had not pursued prosecution after a 2006 Garda investigation found no evidence of a crime. He also mentioned that both commissioners had threatened to sue him over articles he had written, but he did not believe they would have provided confidential information to undermine him. Mooney described a fleeting reference to an allegation against McCabe made by a civilian, which he investigated and found to be unfounded. He stressed that McCabe was still serving and not suspended, indicating the rumor was baseless.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Journalist not briefed negatively about McCabe. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- April 2014 Other
- 2018-06-11 Publication
Topics
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