Courts / Ireland / Report

Taylor denies account of alleged "smear campaign" is untrue

Summary

In the Charleton tribunal, former Garda press officer Superintendent David Taylor admitted that a smear campaign he claimed was directed by former Commissioner Martin Callinan against whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe was a failure. Taylor said he had been instructed to brief journalists negatively about McCabe, but the tribunal found little negative coverage in newspapers. He also alleged a 2006 complaint by a woman, Miss D, about historic abuse by McCabe, which the Director of Public Prosecutions declined to prosecute after a Garda investigation found no evidence of a crime. Phone records presented by Rossa Fanning SC showed no calls from Taylor to journalist Paul Williams on the days in question, contradicting Taylor's claim of briefing. Taylor maintained his evidence was true, while the tribunal's chairman noted the lack of specific instances of negative briefings. The tribunal also considered journalistic privilege claims from reporters who said they had not received negative briefings about McCabe.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Taylor denies account of alleged "smear campaign" is untrue. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• March 2014 Other
• April 2017 Other
• 2018-05-15 Publication

Why: "It doesn't pierce or demolish the privilege just because an alleged source says I am waiving it," Mr Quinn said. CNI source report

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report