Whistleblower speaks out: Callinan's statements "false and misleading", says McCabe

Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe has spoken publicly for the first time to dispute what he says are “false and misleading statements” which were attributed to Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan in reports yesterday.

In an unprecedented move for a serving garda, Sgt McCabe has placed himself in direct conflict with the commissioner by disputing a claim that Commissioner Callinan had issued him with directions which he failed to obey.

In a further escalation of the controversy it has emerged Justice Minister Alan Shatter was personally informed at least three times in 2012 by Oliver Connolly about the seriousness of the criminal cases in the dossier compiled by Sgt McCabe, according to correspondence seen by the Irish Examiner. A statement issued by Sgt McCabe last night said he felt compelled to dispute reports that he had failed to co-operate with the Garda inquiry into the deletion of penalty points.