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Journalists never received negative briefings about McCabe, tribunal hears

Summary

During the Charleton tribunal, former Garda press officer Superintendent David Taylor denied that journalists were briefed negatively about whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe. He claimed he had waived journalistic privilege and encouraged reporters to assist the tribunal. Taylor asserted that he received directions from Commissioner Martin Callinan and Deputy Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan to brief the media negatively, but that the journalists named—Paul Williams, Paul Reynolds, John Burke, Michael O'Toole, and Juno McEnroe—had not received such briefings. He noted that five journalists had never been briefed negatively, and that others claimed privilege. Taylor also mentioned that he had not briefed Michael Clifford and Katie Hannon, who were reporting on McCabe. The tribunal heard that Taylor had informed Commissioner O'Sullivan of a negative story about McCabe and that he had been present when Callinan met RTE journalist Philip Boucher Hayes, though he did not hear their conversation. The tribunal recorded that the journalists simply took the information provided.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Journalists never received negative briefings about McCabe, tribunal hears. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• 2018-05-14 Publication

Why: Supt Taylor said that he received directions to brief negatively from Commissioner Callinan and then deputy commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan "was aware of it, because I spoke to her". CNI source report

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report