Social worker denies she was ‘a puppet of gardaí’

A social worker who wrote a letter to garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe in December 2015 containing false allegations of sexual abuse has denied she was “a puppet of the gardaí”.

The Charleton tribunal is examining claims that allegations of sexual abuse were used as part of a campaign to smear and undermine the reputation of Sgt McCabe.

Kay McLoughlin, a social work team leader, sent the letter to the sergeant seeking to meet with him to discuss the allegations. The letter incorrectly contained false allegations that Sgt McCabe “digitally penetrated” a child, know as Ms D, and threatened her father.