Courts / Ireland / Report
Editors not briefed negatively about McCabe
2018-06-07
Hearing Or Decision
Summary
Two senior newspaper editors told the Charleton tribunal that they were not given negative briefings or smears about Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe. The tribunal is examining allegations by former Garda press officer Superintendent David Taylor that he directed a smear of McCabe. Former commissioners Martin Callinan and Nóirín O'Sullivan deny any smear campaign. Irish Mail on Sunday editor Conor O'Donnell explained that in early 2014 journalist Debbie McCann reported an alleged sexual impropriety against McCabe to her news editor Robert Cox, who passed it to O'Donnell. O'Donnell authorised McCann to approach the D family, but the family declined to speak to a reporter. O'Donnell said he had no knowledge of any negative briefing and that nothing was printed. Journalist Alison O'Reilly claimed McCann told her that editor Sebastian Hamilton stopped the story, but O'Donnell said he did not know McCann's source.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Editors not briefed negatively about McCabe. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- February 2017 Other
- July 2017 Other
- January 2014 Other
- 2018-06-07 Publication
Topics
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