Debbie McCann may be recalled over tribunal evidence

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

Debbie McCann may be recalled by the Charleton Tribunal over evidence about journalistic privilege. The proceedings were reported on 8 June 2018. The tribunal chairman sought legal submissions on whether the issue should be pursued further. McCann had declined to answer questions about possible communications with former Garda press chief Supt Dave Taylor, citing her duty to protect confidential sources.

The tribunal was investigating a claim that former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan ordered a smear campaign against whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe, which Callinan denied. McCann said she had never received a negative briefing about McCabe from a Garda and said she had several sources for information she obtained about him and an allegation made against him by Ms D. The report said the Director of Public Prosecutions had comprehensively dismissed that allegation.