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To: An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan

The State should NOT pay Martin Callinan's legal costs

The State established the Disclosures Tribunal to see if Garda Maurice McCabe was the victim of a smear campaign by senior Gardai. The Tribunal report found that the most senior Garda in the country - former commissioner Matin Callinan did in fact consciously smear Garda Mc Cabe. Now it seems the State is preparing to underwrite the legal costs of this guilty party who is attempting to defend himself in an action brought by Maurice McCabe.
What the State should be doing is agree to settle the action brought by Garda McCabe instead of defending the indefensible. The State should also take a closer look at the former commissioners contract of employment as there should be a clause in that covering disciplinary action against him should he bring the force into disrepute

Why is this important?

1. The most senior Garda in the country knowingly and deliberately smeared a serving Garda who raised the shortcomings in performance of other Gardai.
2. The State already funded the Tribunal to establish the facts and the facts have vindicated Garda McCabe.
3. For the State to then indemnify the guilty party is further persecuting the McCabe's and also means there is no consequence for the guilty party.
4. The Minister for Justice should review the former commissioners contract of employment to see what sanctions were possible for breach of contact for bringing the force into disrepute. If there is such a provision the State should then seek to review his retirement and pension arrangements and if necessary take action to recover costs borne by the State because of his scurrilous actions.
5. This sets a dangerous precedent, where employees of the State can ruin peoples lives with absolutely no consequence for their actions.

The government say that this is being done on legal advice - I would strongly suggest getting a second opinion. The legal profession won't be on the hook for the costs if this goes unchallenged, it will be ordinary citizens of this state. A functioning police force is one of the cornerstones of a democracy. We expect better from the most senior police officer in the land.

How it will be delivered

Email - but if there is enough desire to have this done publicly in front of Leinster House, then that can be arranged.

Updates

2019-05-01 14:05:54 +0100

Good News. The actions by the Mc Cabes has been settled without having to go to trial. They have suffered enough. Whatever has been awarded to them it is the least that they deserve. Thank you to all who supported, signed and shared this petition.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/maurice-mccabe-settles-legal-action-against-state-and-tusla-for-undisclosed-sum-921013.html

2019-05-01 14:01:18 +0100

Some good news for the Mc Cabes. Settled without having to go to trial. They have already suffered enough without having to prolong it. Thank you to all 25,029 of you engaged and supported this petition.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/maurice-mccabe-settles-legal-action-against-state-and-tusla-for-undisclosed-sum-921013.html

2018-12-04 22:53:32 +0000

Well, guess what? It seems that the Oireachtas has such strict guidelines on what it will accept in terms of petitions that it will not accept this one.

http://petitions.oireachtas.ie/online_petitions.nsf/PetitionForm?openform&type=screening+page&lang=EN&r=0.452964065003433

A Petition is admissible if it: with Standing Orders and is in proper form;
does not relate to a case where court proceedings have been initiated and which is being heard or to be heard before a jury;
does not name individuals; - THIS IS WHY IT WON'T BE CONSIDERED

ALL I CAN NOW URGE IS FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE THIS AN ISSUE AT THE NEXT ELECTION.

THIS IS NOT OVER.

2018-11-26 15:01:57 +0000

Petition emailed to Charlie Flanagan, Minister for Justice and and Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar with 24,906 signatures today at 11:41.

A sincere thank you to all of you who took the time and were interested enough to put your names to this petition.

Special thanks to Uplift.ie who provided the online facilities to make this possible.

Mark

2018-11-20 19:45:13 +0000

This should be a cautionary tale for all of us. However much compensation is awarded to the McCabes it still would not be enough to cover the vileness of the persistent campaign of vilification waged against him by the most senior Garda in the land.

:https://www.thejournal.ie/maurice-mccabe-whistleblower-2-4340142-Nov2018/

2018-11-18 16:34:14 +0000

A bit of background and the Fennelly report

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/fennelly-report-nobody-emerges-in-a-good-light-1.2336678

2018-11-18 16:29:49 +0000

Are the government afraid of exposing Enda Kenny and Alan Shatter's role in this to further scrutiny?

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/alan-shatter-had-own-reasons-for-resigning-says-taoiseach-1.2644323

2018-11-15 21:00:49 +0000

In case you wonder why so many people are angry about this:
https://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/whistleblower-the-maurice-mccabe-story-30006518/10963289/

2018-11-15 20:59:32 +0000

Justice Minister wants State to reach early settlement with Maurice McCabe
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/justice-minister-wants-state-to-reach-early-settlement-with-maurice-mccabe-885341.html

2018-11-15 20:52:44 +0000

A huge bualadh bos to the 21,000 of you have signed, tweeted, shared and liked this petition.
Just a bit concerned that Brexit is going to be used to ignore this and drive it down the political agenda.
This is not about revenge, this is about justice for a man and his family grievously wronged by the most senior Garda in the country.

If they can do that to one of their own, what chance do any of the rest of us have?

2018-11-15 10:23:45 +0000

20,000 signatures reached

2018-11-14 00:45:46 +0000

Maybe our Taoiseach is having a change of heart?https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/1113/1010609-maurice-mccabe-martin-callinan/

2018-11-14 00:44:14 +0000

We may be getting places: https://www.thejournal.ie/martin-callinan-legal-costs-4334822-Nov2018/

2018-11-13 22:39:30 +0000

10,000 signatures reached

2018-11-13 09:03:11 +0000

5,000 signatures reached