McCabe not saved from harassment, says whistleblower

The new interim garda commissioner’s claims that Sergeant Maurice McCabe is protected from harassment were contradicted by ex-garda whistleblower John Wilson in spectacular fashion yesterday.

In unprecedented scenes at the latest Dáil justice committee, the retired garda came down from the public gallery while questions were continuing to hand a committee member a note alleging new commissioner Nóirín O Sullivan’s evidence to the cross-party group was inaccurate.

The issue — which resulted in Mr Wilson being taken to one side by a Dáil official before he was allowed to resume his seat — occurred during a detailed two-hour discussion on recent revelations in the force.

However, it has again brought into focus claims Mr McCabe — who, unlike Mr Wilson, remains a garda — is continuing to be targeted by some of his colleagues.

During a planned committee meeting with Ms O Sullivan, ex-Northern Ireland police ombudsman Nuala O Loan and journalism lecturer Ronan Brady, the new interim garda commissioner — who replaced the now retired Martin Callinan — was asked about reports Mr McCabe is still being harassed.

After Sinn Féin’s Padraig Mac Lochlainn told her to “ring him and speak with him”, Ms O Sullivan stressed “senior garda management” are “very supportive”.

While privacy issues prevented her from discussing the matter in detail, the interim head of the garda force said she has asked the interim garda confidential recipient — the official tasked with protecting whistleblowers — to contact Mr McCabe about the concerns.

Insisting she will take “personal responsibility” to ensure this occurs, Ms O Sullivan added a “local management team” has already met the garda to “assist”.

As questioning continued, Mr Wilson — who was in the public gallery — left his seat and handed a detailed noted to Finian McGrath.

The TD then alleged Ms O Sullivan’s claims were untrue. Reading from the note, he asked the interim garda commissioner if she previously agreed with her predecessor’s attitude toward whistleblowers, “personally” asked an officer not to meet Mr McCabe and if she personally banned him from Pulse before her promotion.

Ms O Sullivan rejected the claims, leading to audible guffaws from the gallery.

The head of the garda force had earlier described the current situation as a “defining moment” for the service.

Insisting the force needs to be more open to win back public trust, she said new internal changes will include “integrity testing” of gardaí and a better relationship with independent watchdog the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

Ms O Loan, said it is her “suspicion” GSOC does not have enough resources, and raised concerns over current gardaí working at it.

She said a key issue is GSOC’s current inability to investigate garda stations or officers’ private cars and homes without warning.