A false allegation placed in a file because of a ‘clerical error’

CONCERNS about how Tusla handles sensitive information were raised last month following revelations in Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe’s case.

In 2006 an allegation was made against Sergeant McCabe which was found to be false and without any foundation.

But due to an error the claim was included in his file which was sent to Tusla and gardaí in 2013. This was later deemed to be the result of a ‘clerical error’ by a counsellor. It was claimed that she had accidentally pasted the false abuse allegations into her report.

But to make matters worse Tusla’s apology to Sgt McCabe was mistakenly sent to the wrong address. The formal apology was delivered to the home of an elderly neighbour. A daughter of the neighbour found the document – from the chief executive of Tusla Fred McBride – and took it to the McCabe home. The embarrassing error sparked an internal review at the agency and the ‘extraordinary incompetence’ was criticised by Fianna Fáil’s John McGuinness.

The HSE apologised ‘unreservedly’ to the McCabes following the revelations.