Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Since yesterday, the controversy surrounding the O'Higgins report involving the leaked transcripts has escalated, particularly given the leaks of a different nature, one to "Six One" news, a separate leak of transcripts to the "Prime Time" programme and extensive leaks in the Irish Examineragain this morning. These are all fairly damaging in terms of their revelations, albeit perhaps crying out for a broader context.

The bottom line is the transcripts are now there for all to see. We cannot live in some sort of make believe world where they are not there because they are not officially there. The reality is they are in the public domain and they make for stark reading. It is stated that the instructions were at all times to challenge the motivation and credibility of Sergeant McCabe in regard to the corruption and malpractice allegations. The judge questions this, asking whether it was:

...because he was motivated by malice or some such motive and that impinges on his integrity. If those are your instructions from the commissioner, so be it.

To which the senior counsel replies:

So be it. That is the position, Judge ... I mean this isn't something that I am pulling out of the sky, Judge, and I mean I can only act on instructions.

The key point I made to the Tánaiste yesterday was that this needs to be comprehensively and transparently addressed; it cannot be left as it is. I accept it is entirely unsatisfactory we are where we are now but we are where we are. It may be uncomfortable for people but there are some stark realities emanating from this. As I said yesterday, it goes to the core of how whistleblowers and people who have made assertions and allegations in good faith are treated. The Guerin report was very strong on this aspect of the case in quoting all the previous people who were in charge of Bailieborough station for over a decade, and all speak very highly around the integrity and credibility of Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

See this speech in context