Courts / Ireland / Report

Social worker who wrote to McCabe denies being "a puppet of the gardaí"

Summary

In a tribunal hearing on 12 July 2017, Kay McLoughlin, a social work team leader, denied that she was a "puppet of the gardaí" after a letter she wrote to whistle‑blower Sergeant Maurice McCabe in December 2015 contained false allegations of sexual abuse. The letter, which claimed McCabe had "digitally penetrated" Ms D and threatened her father, was sent to McCabe to arrange a meeting. McLoughlin explained that she had been aware of McCabe from media reports and that a Tusla file on him had been opened in 2013 following a counselling request by Ms D. An administrative error had inserted an unrelated allegation of "digital penetration" into the file, which McLoughlin admitted she had not fully reviewed. She accepted responsibility for sending the inappropriate letter and said she had no bias or grievance against McCabe or the Gardaí. The tribunal continued the next day.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Social worker who wrote to McCabe denies being "a puppet of the gardaí". Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• December 2015 Other
• July 2013 Other
• July 2014 Other
• January 2016 Other
• 2017-07-12 Publication

Why: She said she assumed Ms D might have sought counselling in 2013 because "Mr McCabe's name being in the media may have triggered something for her. CNI source report

Topics

Sexual Offences Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report