McCabe slams ‘nasty’ people behind smear campaign

The Garda whistleblower, who was found by the Charleton Tribunal to be the subject of a smear campaign by Garda chiefs, has told the Celt that he views those responsible as “rotten” and “nasty”.
Maurice McCabe, however, said it is “amazing” to be fully vindicated by the latest report from the Charlton Tribunal.
He was speaking exclusively to The Anglo-Celt following the publication of the Disclosures Tribunal’s third interim report last month. It concluded that the Mountnugent native was “repulsively denigrated” in a smear campaign.
Justice Peter Charleton found that Sgt McCabe had the interests of the people of Ireland uppermost in his mind at all time and regarded those interests as superior to any loyalty he had to An Garda Síochána, but the Tribunal report stated that neither interest should have ever been in conflict.
The tribunal concluded that there was a ‘campaign of calumny against Maurice McCabe by Commissioner Martin Callinan and that in it he was actively aided by his press officer, Supt Dave Taylor’.
Speaking to The Anglo-Celt this week, Mr McCabe expressed huge relief. “The McCabe saga is over for the whole family,” he said.

 ‘Fantastic’

“It was fantastic to be completely exonerated. Mr Justice Charlton just said ‘this man did a considerable service to the people of Ireland.’ It was great,” said Mr McCabe.
“I am delighted it is all over,” he added.
On his decision to retire, Mr McCabe said “when I saw the report and read it through, I did come to a conclusion, my family and I, that it would be awkward to go back – that is why I retired”.
He was speaking to the Celt ahead of the airing of a two-part TV documentary on RTE on November 12 and 13.
Presented by reporter Katie Hannon, the documentary will look into McCabe’s story, as well as the effects that the scandal have had on his life and family.
Quizzed as to whether he ever thought a ‘smear’ campaign was being orchestrated, Mr McCabe said: “I did not really think about it but it was a meeting I had with Deputy John McGuinness in May, 2016, when he told me about Martin Callinan and the car park – then I knew – that this was widespread maybe. Then we heard the evidence at the Charlton Tribunal that Dave Taylor was involved in it.”
Asked how he felt when the Tribunal found that two senior gardaí were involved in the smear campaign against him, Mr McCabe said: “I knew they were involved, I did not know the extent of it.”
Was that finding hard to take? “Yes, it was very hard to take!”
He added that, when he read it, he viewed them as “rotten, nasty people”.
 

Apology

The new Garda Commissioner Drew Harris met Maurice McCabe in his Cavan home to apologise on behalf of the force. 
“I found him unreal – a breath of fresh air. There were no airs or graces about him – he just came into our house for an hour and a half – as normal as anyone else,” revealed Mr McCabe.
“We discussed the policing plans he has for the future – he knows what is going on – he is the right man to do it.”
Speaking after the release of the latest Charleton Report, the new Garda Commissioner said the report represents “an opportunity to change how (An Garda) operates, so we provide a professional and ethical service to the public”.

Career
Maurice McCabe joined An Garda Síochána in August 1985 and had completed almost 34 service when he retired recently.
When asked what motivated him to become a garda, he said: “I first became interested when I was in third year at secondary school in Oldcastle. I just took off from there – I wanted it and nothing else.”
His first station after passing out from Templemore in January, 1986, was Drogheda where he was stationed for two years before being transferred to Dundalk for another two years.
His next station was Bailieboro, where he remained for about 10 years before he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and posted to Clones Garda Station in 2000 where he remained until 2004.
In the latter part of his career he was stationed in Mullingar.
Now that he is retired from the force, what next for Maurice McCabe? “I am going to relax now until after Christmas, then I will just make a decision as to what I want to do next.”