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EDITORIAL: Persecution of Sgt Maurice McCabe

February 19th, 2017 5:00 PM

By Southern Star Team

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One wonders where the ongoing persecution of Garda whistle-blower Sgt Maurice McCabe is going to end. 

ONE wonders where the ongoing persecution of Garda whistle-blower Sgt Maurice McCabe is going to end. Just when one thought things could not get any worse for the conscientious officer, whose actions have been vindicated by a number of inquiries by senior judicial figures, came the latest smear on his character by a combination of the HSE and child protection agency Tusla which saw him wrongly accused of the sexual abuse of a child and which has had a profound effect on both himself and his young family. 

Apologies by the HSE and Tusla are not enough. How this happened and the motivations of the accuser need to be fully investigated as well as who knew what and when within the ranks of An Garda Siochána and also in the political sphere; trying the explain it away as an ‘administrative error’ is insulting, given the nature of the false and damaging accusations. 

Meanwhile, all the revelations about the treatment of Garda whistle-blowers, in particular the abominable attitude taken towards Sgt Maurice McCabe by senior management, continues to damage public confidence in the force and erode respect for it, so Mr Justice Peter Charleton needs to get through his inquiry as thoroughly and as quickly as possible. Depending on his findings, the outcome could have serious repercussions for many and could potentially bring down the government.

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