Commissioner must answer to the public

GARDA Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan has serious public interest questions to answer following yesterday’s front page Irish Examiner story on her claim that whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe was motivated by “malice” when he highlighted malpractice in the force. This leaves Ireland’s most senior garda officer in an invidious position.

O’Higgins Commission of Inquiry was told by senior counsel for Ms O’Sullivan that evidence would be produced to show that Sgt McCabe had told two other officers that he was making his complaints because of malice he harboured towards a senior officer. The inquiry was told that the officers concerned had taken notes at the meeting in question and prepared a report which was forwarded to a senior officer.

Mr O’Higgins asked the commissioner’s lawyer whether “you are attacking his [McCabe’s] motivation and attacking his character”. The reply from Colm Smyth, SC, was: “Right the way through.” He told the judge that he was acting on instructions.