Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe no longer trusts anybody, tribunal hears

At the Charleton tribunal on 19 July, the inquiry into whether Sergeant Maurice McCabe was targeted by a smear campaign heard testimony from Superintendent Noel Cunningham. The tribunal examined a 2006 investigation into allegations of indecent assault made against Sgt McCabe by a child, with Supt Cunningham having recommended to the Director of Public Prosecutions that no prosecution proceed. The DPP accepted this recommendation. Supt Cunningham acknowledged that when informing Sgt McCabe of the decision, he conveyed only that there was insufficient evidence, leaving uncertainty about the allegation's merit. The superintendent stated that following the investigation, Sgt McCabe indicated the process had fundamentally altered his trust in others. The tribunal also heard evidence concerning a 2013 letter from the child and family agency Tusla requesting a meeting regarding abuse allegations, which Supt Cunningham said he had mislaid. He stated he later located the correspondence during a subsequent search. Sgt McCabe and Mr D were both stationed in Bailieboro, County Cavan. The tribunal continues.