Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The statement of clarification last night actually clarifies nothing. There is an issue that needs to be clarified because there are media reports that state the media have seen documentation alleging the Garda Commissioner instructed her legal team to insinuate malice on the part of Sergeant McCabe. If that is the case, it calls into question her credibility. If she is saying one thing in public and another in private to her legal team, there is an issue.

The second scenario is that the documentation is not legitimate. If that is the case, someone, probably a person close to the commission of investigation, has knowingly passed on documentation that is not factual. One can only presume that somebody would do that to undermine the Garda Commissioner. Either way, the matter needs to be clarified because unfortunately it is distracting from the report and its recommendations. Clarity is required given that the Garda Commissioner will be the person responsible for implementing the recommendations.

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