Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has called on the Minister for Justice to clarify if he has agreed an open-ended arrangement to cover the costs and damages of former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan in a civil action by Garda whistle-blower Maurice McCabe.
“It is extremely galling for people to see the state providing and funding lawyers for former Commissioner Callinan given the recent findings of the Disclosures Tribunal that he had smeared Sergeant Maurice McCabe”.
Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has called on the Minister for Justice to clarify if he has agreed an open-ended arrangement to cover the costs and damages of former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan in a civil action by Garda whistle-blower Maurice McCabe.
Deputy Shortall said:
“It is extremely galling for people to see the state providing and funding lawyers for former Commissioner Callinan given the recent findings of the Disclosures Tribunal that he had smeared Sergeant Maurice McCabe.
“Surely in the light of the Tribunal’s damning findings against Mr Callinan, the State has justifiable legal grounds for taking a different approach and directly settling this case by way of ex gratia payment to Sergeant McCabe? If the Minister for Justice has legal advice to the contrary, he needs to spell it out.
“The Minister must also clarify whether the legal agreement made between the State and Mr Callinan is open ended, or contingent on the outcome of the Tribunal. In light of the Tribunal’s serious findings against Mr Callinan, the Minister must now review the legal agreement made before the Tribunal reported.
“The Tribunal totally exonerated former Sergeant Maurice McCabe and both the Minister for Justice and the new Garda Commissioner have rightly apologised to him. Every effort must now be made to ensure that insult is not added to injury for Sergeant McCabe who has already suffered enormously for his bravery.”
ENDS
13th November 2018