Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD, following the broadcast of RTÉ’s Prime Time tonight, has said that in light of the revelations that are unprecedented and “quite frankly disgusting and vile”, it is incumbent on that Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan to step aside with immediate effect.
Teachta McDonald said:
“Sinn Féin has welcomed the establishment of a Commission of Investigation to be chaired by Mr. Justice Peter Charleton into allegations that amount to an apparent comprehensive campaign that cannot be described as anything other than character assassination to destroy the standing of a serving member of An Garda Síochána, namely Sergeant Maurice McCabe.
“Revelations this evening that An Garda Síochåna were sent a file by TUSLA into an alleged crime that turned out to be entirely unsubstantiated are unprecedented and quite frankly disgusting and vile.
“Such are the allegations in this case, it is in incumbent on the Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan to step aside immediately for the duration of the Charleton Commission’s investigation.
“The Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald must also explain how she could possibly have been unaware of this contact between An Garda Síochana and another state agency, as she claimed in the Dáil in response to a question from me today. How could that possibly have been the case?”