McCabe caused ‘split’ among fellow gardaí
Whistleblower’s complaints led to ‘divided’ station
COMPLAINTS by Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe about policing in Bailieborough were ‘divisive’ and caused a ‘split’, an officer has told the Charleton tribunal.
Inspector Pat O’Connell said that from around 2007 Sgt McCabe had raised issues relating to the large number of probationary guards, and the lack of an inspector in Bailieborough
‘It was divisive. You could regard it as split,’ said Insp O’Connell, who was a sergeant at the time. ‘I certainly got a feel that there was a negative feel in Bailieborough.’
The tribunal is looking at allegations that Sgt McCabe was the subject of a smear campaign. In 2014, a HSE notification was sent to gardaí containing an erroneous allegation of sexual assault against Sgt McCabe.
Insp O’Connell, who was a sergeant and district clerk to Chief Supt James Sheridan, was asked why he did not give Mr McCabe a ‘heads up’ that he might be interviewed by social workers.
The inspector told tribunal chairman, Judge Peter Charleton, that as district clerk he was privy to confidential information other sergeants would not know about. Had he disclosed it, he could have faced disciplinary action.
Insp O’Connell also said that as Sgt McCabe had become a national figure, there was ‘a reluctance and a certain fear that if you made contact you would find yourself embroiled in a further controversy’.
The inspector said he was aware an earlier allegation had been made against Sgt McCabe in 2006, but he didn’t know specific details.
He knew that Supt Noel Cunningham, then inspector, had investigated the 2006 case, and the DPP had directed no prosecution.
Insp O’Connell said that in May 2014, when the notification was received from the HSE, his superior officer Chief Supt James Sheridan was ‘very taken aback with the allegation’.
‘I certainly didn’t believe that he would have carried out such an act,’ Insp O’Connell said.
He said he knew this was different to the 2006 allegation, although he did not know the details of 2006 because ‘this was an allegation of rape.
If there was an allegation of rape against any officer when I came in, that would have been known.’
‘The general conversation was, “this must be wrong, this must be a mistake”. That was the feeling I got at the time,’ he said.
Insp O’Connell said he ‘got the sense’ that Chief Supt Sheridan also believed it was wrong. A letter sent by Mr Sheridan to Kieran Kenny – the assistant commissioner in charge of the Northern region – did not say the Chief Superintendent believed the allegation was a mistake, the tribunal heard.
Insp O’Connell said that while the officers might believe there was an error, they did not have confirmation of their suspicion at the time.