Tusla ‘error’ may prove systemic issues in handling of cases, say social workers

Sergeant Maurice McCabe finds it hard to believe false claims made against him arose from an honest mistake in how the case was processed, but social work experts have not ruled out the possibility that this week’s revelations simply highlight systemic issues in how such cases are handled.

Thursday’s dramatic developments exposed how the garda whistleblower found himself receiving a letter from Tusla in January last year about the allegation which stated: “We will have to decide if you pose a risk to children.” There are two key questions: who made the ‘clerical error’ which set off the false allegation, and when?

In August 2013, abuse allegations were made by a young woman to a counsellor, who then contacted Tusla and the gardaí. According to one senior social worker who spoke to the Irish Examiner yesterday, the error — the attaching of a false accusation of serious abuse against Sgt McCabe — could have been made at this point.