(Pictured: John McGuinness TD. Credit: Collins)

By Gerard Cunningham

The Charleton tribunal should disregard the evidence of four witnesses, including two TDs, in favour of the testimony of former commissioner Martin Callinan, a barrister for An Garda Síochána has said.

Shane Murphy SC said that the evidence of the four men – journalist Philip Boucher-Hayes, TDs John McGuinness and John Deasy and Comptroller and Auditor General Seamus McCarthy – could not be regarded as corroborating each other, as they were each alleging different things were said during conversations with Mr Callinan about whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

The tribunal, which is examining allegations from former ….read more

(Pictured: Former garda press officer Superintendent David Taylor. Credit: Collins)

By Gerard Cunningham

The protected disclosure made by former garda press officer Superintendent David Taylor “is essentially a work of fiction”, lawyers for An Garda Síochana have told the Charleton tribunal.

Shane Murphy SC was speaking during his closing submission to the tribunal, which is examining allegations from Supt Taylor that he was directed to brief negatively against garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

Former commissioner Martin Callinan denies giving any such direction, and his then deputy Nóirín O’Sullivan denies she was aware of such a direction.

“There is no substantiated evidence that Mr Callinan or ….read more

(File Picture: Sean Gillane SC. Credit: Collins)

By Gerard Cunningham

Former garda press officer Supt David Taylor’s account of his dealings with journalists was “unworthy of trust”, a barrister representing RTÉ has told the Charleton tribunal.

The tribunal is hearing final submissions from legal teams before the chairman, Mr Justice Peter Charleton writes his report into whether senior garda officers conducted a smear campaign against whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

Journalists John Burke and Paul Reynolds had reputations built up over decades, and there was “simply no evidence to support adverse findings against them”, Sean Gillane SC said on behalf of RTÉ.

Both journalists deny allegations ….read more

(Pictured: Mr Justice Peter Charleton. Credit: Collins)

By Gerard Cunningham

The chairman of the Charleton tribunal has said he will not go to the High Court to require journalists to answer questions where they claimed journalistic privilege because it would be “absolutely futile”.

The tribunal is looking at allegations by Superintendent David Taylor that he was directed when he was garda press officer in 2013 and 2014 to smear whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe. Former commissioners Martin Callinan and Nóirín O’Sullivan deny there was any smear campaign.

On day 97 of the inquiry, barristers for some newspapers told Mr Justice Peter Charleton that journalistic ….read more

(Pictured: Mick Wallace TD. Credit: Collins)

By Gerard Cunningham

Dail Deputy Mick Wallace has told the Charleton tribunal that he believes there was an orchestrated campaign to undermine Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

The tribunal is looking at allegations by Superintendent David Taylor that he was directed when he was Garda Press Officer to smear Sgt McCabe. Former commissioners Martin Callinan and Nóirín O’Sullivan deny there was any smear campaign.

Mr Wallace told the tribunal that he met with Sgt McCabe about revelations made by Supt Taylor on 3 October 2016. He said the sergeant told him that Supt Taylor had confirmed what he ….read more

(Pictured: Mr Fionnan Sheahan. Credit: Collins)

by Gerard Cunningham

The editor of the Irish Independent Fionnan Sheahan has said he never told a former Sunday Independent editor that garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe was “a paedophile”.

Mr Sheahan told the Charleton tribunal that he had no evidence to offer the tribunal as he had only heard “unfounded allegations and rumours”.

In 2007 the DPP directed no prosecution after a garda investigation into abuse allegations made by Miss D, saying no evidence of a crime was disclosed.

The tribunal is looking at allegations by Superintendent David Taylor that he was directed when he was garda press ….read more

(Pictured: Mr Paul Reynolds. Credit: Collins)

By Gerard Cunningham

RTE crime correspondent Paul Reynolds has told the Charleton tribunal he was “shocked” to be nominated by former garda press officer Superintendent David Taylor as one of the journalists who was negatively briefed about whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

“I resent it. I was shocked by it,” Mr Reynolds told tribunal chairman Mr Justice Peter Charleton. “I can’t understand how he would say that and I deeply deeply resent it.”

The tribunal chairman also asked Mr Reynolds how he felt to be named by journalist and academic Colum Kenny as one of two journalists who told ….read more

(Pictured: RTE Crime Correspondent Paul Reynolds. Credit: Collins)

RTÉ journalist Paul Reynolds has told the Charleton tribunal that he did not believe that sources were “pouring poison in his ear” or negatively briefing him, when they spoke to him about a historic allegation made against whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe.

Mr Reynolds was questioned over notes he had taken during conversations in preparation for an RTÉ broadcast on 9 May 2016. The broadcast concerned the leaked O’Higgins Commission report into complaints made by Sgt McCabe about policing in the Cavan-Monaghan garda division.

The tribunal is required to look at whether former garda commissioner Nóirín ….read more

(Pictured: Mr Paul Reynolds. Credit: Collins)

By Gerard Cunningham

RTE crime correspondent Paul Reynolds has told the Charleton tribunal his record speaks for itself in reporting on An Garda Síochána.

The tribunal is looking at whether former commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan influenced or attempted to influence RTE broadcasts on 9 May 2016, in which Mr Reynolds discussed the leaked O’Higgins Commission report into complaints by whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

Mr Reynolds said that he would ask whatever relevant questions needed to be asked when interviewing commissioners, and that former Commissioner O’Sullivan had twice walked off during interviews, and RTE broadcast this.

“It’s a lazy assumption and ….read more

(Pictured: Mr Paul Williams. Credit: Collins)

By Gerard Cunningham

Journalist Paul Williams has said he was “surprised” to be named in the Dáil as someone who had penalty points quashed and “did not know it was coming”.

“I was surprised. I didn’t know it was coming,” he told the Charleton tribunal. “I had nothing to hide. It was in relation to a fixed penalty notice that had been done by the book. I had appealed,” Mr Williams said.

Mr Williams said he did not know who was responsible for his name being made public, and said “I didn’t do anything wrong”.

The tribunal is looking ….read more