Frances Fitzgerald told tribunal she did not interfere

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

Former minister Frances Fitzgerald told the Disclosures Tribunal on 31 January 2018 that she made a conscious decision not to interfere in the O’Higgins Commission. The tribunal was examining whether former Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan relied on unjustified grounds to discredit whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe at the private inquiry.

Fitzgerald said she regarded the commission as private and independent, and believed any issues should be dealt with by the commission and its judge. She also told the tribunal she did not discuss the matter with department officials, special advisers or the Garda commissioner. Her evidence was due to continue the following day.