Senior counsel will talk to whistleblower Sgt McCabe

The leading criminal lawyer appointed by the Government to conduct an independent inquiry into allegations of Garda corruption has been specifically tasked with interviewing whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe or anyone else relevant to his claims.

During his eight-week investigation senior counsel Sean Guerin will also be able to examine files held by the gardaí before he reports back to the Taoiseach and advises whether a full-scale Commission of Investigation should be established.

Yesterday the Government published the Terms of Reference for Mr Guerin who will investigate the McCabe dossier which was handed to Taoiseach Enda Kenny last week by Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin.