Conor Lally denied briefing over McCabe assault allegation

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Conor Lally denied being negatively briefed about a sexual assault allegation involving Maurice McCabe at the Disclosures Tribunal, reported on 7 June 2018. He said no garda member had briefed him negatively about Sergeant McCabe and that nobody in An Garda Síochána had discussed the 2006 allegation with him.

Mr Lally said an Irish Times interview with Ms D was organised independently of the gardaí. The tribunal also heard that Irish Mail on Sunday editor Conor O'Donnell authorised a reporter to seek an interview after receiving information about the allegation, but the newspaper published nothing.

Irish Daily Mail group editor Sebastian Hamilton said he had no editorial responsibility for the Sunday newspaper and denied stopping a story about Ms D. The allegation against Mr McCabe was previously dismissed by the Director of Public Prosecutions as not constituting an offence.