Questions posed by Maurice McCabe remain unanswered amid the tumult

The first time Garda whistle-blower Sergeant Maurice McCabe’s concerns of serious malpractice and alleged cover-ups in the force gained public attention, former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan retired after a late-night knock on the door, writes Fiachra Ó Cionnaith.

When the questions came again, it was ex-justice minister Alan Shatter’s turn to fall on his sword.

Department of Justice secretary general Brian Purcell and Garda Confidential recipient Oliver Connolly soon followed when given the nod to have their own hara kiri moment.