Garda whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe has taken issue with evidence presented by interim Garda Commissioner Noirín O'Sullivan to the Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality about the level of support offered to him by the Garda authorities.

The Irish Times understands Sgt McCabe rang the commissioner's office at Garda headquarters yesterday to complain after he listened to her evidence to the committee, which is reviewing Garda oversight.

The review was ordered by the Government in response to recent policing scandals, including the Garda’s and the Government’s handling of allegations by Sgt McCabe and another whistleblower, former garda John Wilson. Mr Wilson was in Leinster House yesterday and spoke to the commissioner after a chance meeting there.

Sources close to Sgt McCabe said he believed evidence was given that suggested senior officers were supporting him as he attempted to resume his career in the aftermath of his allegations that led to the departure from office of former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan and former minister for justice Alan Shatter.

Pulse access

The sources claimed that apart from being told his access to the Garda’s computerised Pulse database had been reactivated and his going three times to a senior officer in the past fortnight to allege continued harassment at work by colleagues he has had no contact with senior officers. He has been on sick leave from his post in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, since Monday as a result of stress he says has been brought about because of continued poor treatment of him.

Ms O’Sullivan said Garda managers had been in contact with him and “were there to assist and support him and that’s been made very clear to him”. “He also has the welfare services at his disposal,” she added. When it was put to her by Finian McGrath TD (Ind) that he had information suggesting nobody had spoken to Sgt McCabe, the commissioner said: “Deputy, that’s not my understanding.”

Earlier, she faced questions from Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD (SF) about reports in the media suggesting Sgt McCabe was continuing to be harassed and victimised by some colleagues over the allegations he has made. They related mainly to the termination of penalty points and alleged malpractice in Cavan-Monaghan dating back to 2008.

Ms O’Sullivan said she was aware of the reports and was also aware Sgt McCabe was entitled to his privacy, which she was not going to breach in a public forum. “What I can say is that senior Garda management are very supportive of Sgt Maurice McCabe and certainly are in contact with him on a daily basis,” she said.

Confidential recipient

She said she had also spoken yesterday to the interim confidential recipient, retired judge Patrick McMahon, and had asked that he assist in making contact with Sgt McCabe’s legal adviser to identify the ongoing difficulties. She repeated that dissent would not be interpreted as disloyalty and that whistleblowers would be listened to.

Former Northern Ireland police ombudsman Nuala O’Loan said Garda oversight needed to be reformed so members of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) would not be required to give gardaí notice of its staff’s intention to call to and/or search a Garda station or other locations. She also said the provision in oversight legislation that excluded the Garda Commissioner’s office from the reach of GSOC would not be entertained in other countries, adding that she would not have agreed to work under such a restriction.