Martin Callinan denies remarks alleged by TDs at tribunal

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

Former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan denied remarks attributed to him by TDs John Deasy and John McGuinness about whistleblower Maurice McCabe. The proceedings were reported on 10 April 2018.

Deasy told the Disclosures Tribunal that Callinan had said McCabe was not to be believed or trusted on anything. Deasy said he thought Callinan was trying to influence the penalty points issue. Callinan denied making the remarks and said he had told Deasy that the Public Accounts Committee would have to be mindful that not all McCabe’s allegations were correct, as highlighted in an internal Garda report.

McGuinness alleged that Callinan had said McCabe sexually abused his own family during a hotel car park meeting. Callinan accepted that the meeting took place but denied making the comments attributed to him. The report described the meeting as taking place on 23 January 2014, while also reporting that McGuinness had referred to a conversation on 24 January 2014.

Callinan’s counsel challenged McGuinness about details of his account, including when he made a note of the meeting and earlier interview accounts. McGuinness rejected suggestions that he was confused, said parts had been forgotten and maintained that he had recorded events as best he could. He had finished giving evidence to the tribunal by the time of the report.