Maurice McCabe and the rule of law
THE shocking revelations at the centre of the Maurice McCabe affair represent a final opportunity to implement absolute root and branch reform of An Garda Siochana. Nothing less will do. The revelations indicate that either a monumental error or sinister conspiracy has taken place at the heart of at least two institutions of the State. At this remove, the entire affair has taken on the appearance of a deeply disturbing combination of both error and conspiracy. It is, therefore, urgent in the extreme that these matters are thoroughly investigated without fear or favour and that the findings of such an investigation inform a criminal investigation should such be deemed necessary to follow.
The Child and Family Agency, Tusla, is dedicated to improving the wellbeing and outcomes for children in this country. This agency was established as a consequence of the exposure of an appalling litany of physical, psychological and sexual abuse of children, sometimes in the care of the State itself. Tusla has provided and continues to provide a valuable service. That this agency should be responsible for, at best, a monumental error in the case of Maurice McCabe and his family is as intolerable as it is profoundly shocking. It is not good enough to say that a grievous mistake has occurred and to issue an apology to the McCabe family, however sincerely that apology is tendered. What is needed now is for consequences to follow, meaningful consequences at whatever level is shown to be required.
These events also involve An Garda Siochana, the management and operation of which has been under scrutiny for several years, but still shows painfully slow progress, indeed marked reluctance towards full reform. As of now, the Garda stand accused of seizing on Tusla’s monumental error to perpetuate a gross smear on Maurice McCabe, that he sexually abused a child. It is difficult to imagine a more scurrilous accusation. Mr McCabe has shown incredible resolve for which he must be commended, but it is evident that these events have taken a great toll on his wife and family. The McCabe family require and deserve all sympathy and support.
Maurice McCabe is the Garda whistleblower who has done the State a service in exposing what was, until now, at best a litany of initially basic but progressively worsening shortcomings in the policing of the State. These failures have the potential to also dangerously undermine confidence in the policing of the country.
As with Tusla, it is no longer enough to claim that errors and mistakes were made, or that reform is under way, however hesitantly embraced. Should the impending Commission of Inquiry discover evidence of a garda conspiracy against McCabe, not only resignations but criminal proceedings should follow.
To compound these developments, the governance of these two institutions of the State as represented by the government of the day last week showed itself to be, so far, bordering on the incompetent in attempting to get to the bottom of what are grotesquely disquieting events. As with Tusla, as with the Garda, neither is this good enough. The Government, indeed the entire body politic, must mark out as a collective absolute priority the ability of the State to thoroughly investigate what has gone on in this case and to allow the consequences fall where they may.