David Taylor says alleged smear campaign was wrong

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

David Taylor told the Disclosures Tribunal about alleged negative briefings on 16 May 2018, as the inquiry examined claims he was directed to brief journalists against Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

Taylor said he could not identify when he realised the alleged campaign was wrong, describing that change as an evolution in his thinking. He said the briefings were intended to suggest McCabe was motivated by revenge after raising policing and penalty-points concerns, while former commissioners Martin Callinan and Nóirín O'Sullivan denied the allegations.

The tribunal heard that Taylor said the alleged campaign ended after Callinan retired, and that journalists had not reacted to what he told them. The inquiry adjourned after evidence, with Taylor due to continue giving evidence.