No evidence for David Taylor's smear claims on devices examined, tribunal told

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

The Disclosures Tribunal heard that searches of Garda devices and IT systems found no evidence supporting Superintendent David Taylor's allegation of a smear campaign against whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe. The proceedings were reported on 10 May 2018.

Taylor alleged that former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan directed him to smear McCabe and that former commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan knew about it. McCabe told the tribunal that Taylor had said he was smeared by text. Taylor, however, alleged that the negative briefing was not done by text and was never written down.

Forensic Science Northern Ireland examined eight phones, two laptops, an iPad and Garda computer systems, including Pulse. The inquiry had previously heard that 12 of 15 phones of interest were missing, including all three Taylor used while in the press office, and that nine of 11 laptops had not been found. The laptop used by Callinan had been wiped in accordance with Garda rules.

The report said other witnesses were due to give evidence on the examination of two privileged Garda IT systems to which the forensic service had not been granted access. Taylor was expected to begin giving evidence on Monday.