Fine Gael TD John Deasy has told the Disclosures Tribunal that Martin Callinan said that Maurice McCabe wasn’t to be believed or trusted on anything.
The former member of the Public Accounts Committee said the then Garda Commissioner made the comments just before his appearance before the PAC on January 23rd 2014.
The Tribunal has also heard that the then head of the Justice Department sent Mr Callinan a congratulatory text minutes after the Committee hearing ended.
John Deasy says he was one of the members of the Public Accounts Committee - who was at the forefront of not hearing Maurice McCabe’s evidence on the quashing of penalty points.
John Deasy arrives at the Disclosures Tribunal in Dublin Castle | Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie
Moments before Martin Callinan’s appearance before the PAC, Deputy Deasy says it took his breath away when the then Commissioner told him that Sgt McCabe couldn’t be believed or trusted.
He later described the comments as very derogatory in an interview with RTE - but this is the first time he’s revealed the identity of who made those comments, which Mr Callinan denies.
During the PAC appearance, Commissioner Callinan referred to the actions of the whistleblowers as disgusting.
File photo
The Tribunal heard that 12 minutes after this hearing finished, then-Secretary General of the Deparment of Justice, Brian Purcell texted Mr Callinan saying 'Well done - exceptional performance under fire - Brian'.
When informed of this message – former Chairman of the PAC John McGuinness said 'that’s an interesting relationship'.
