Michael Clifford: It looks like a cover-up, walks like a cover-up, and smells like a cover-up...

The Charleton Tribunal came across a serious cover-up yesterday. As of now, the cover-up is only alleged, writes Michael Clifford.

But on the evidence heard it looks like a cover-up walks like a cover-up and above all smells like a cover-up. This is an extremely serious matter as the alleged cover-up occurred within the state agency charged with protecting children.

The tribunal was hearing the last witness in the module dealing with how a false allegation of serious child sexual abuse against Maurice McCabe was generated and dealt with in the child protection agency Tusla. This occurred at a time when McCabe was making serious waves in An Garda Síochána and beyond by highlighting malpractice within the force.