Paul Reynolds gives evidence at Charleton tribunal

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

Paul Reynolds gave evidence at the Charleton tribunal about allegations of negative briefings involving Sergeant Maurice McCabe. The proceedings were reported on 15 June 2018.

Reynolds said he was shocked to be named as a journalist who had been negatively briefed about McCabe. He said that after hearing rumours in 2013, he learned there had been an allegation and an investigation, that a file went to the DPP and that there was no prosecution. He said he did not regard information about the abuse investigation as a negative briefing because McCabe was exonerated.

Reynolds said he had a statutory obligation to report fairly and impartially on the leaked O’Higgins Commission report. The tribunal was examining allegations concerning Garda briefings and possible influence over RTÉ broadcasts, while former commissioners denied any smear campaign.