Official: Callinan never tried to smear McCabe

The former head of the Department of Justice denies it was inappropriate that the ex-Garda commissioner met a Dáil committee chairman to argue against a whistleblower giving evidence.

The official, Brian Purcell, also told the Disclosures Tribunal that former commissioner Martin Callinan “never” made attempts to smear Sgt McCabe.

The tribunal is investigating if there was a campaign by senior gardaí to discredit the whistleblower and has heard claims Mr Callinan spread child sex abuse rumours about Sgt McCabe.