The chairman of the Disclosures Tribunal is to rule on whether evidence from a certain witness known as ‘Ms D’ should be heard in private.
The Tribunal is examining if false sexual abuse claims were used to smear and discredit the garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe.
The Tribunal’s heard in 2006 a female – known only as Ms D- made a complaint against Sgt Maurice McCabe following a game of hide and seek in 1998.
Ms D was the daughter of a colleague of Sgt McCabe.
The allegation was dismissed by the DPP but years later it resurfaced and was inflamed to a rape allegation.
This allegation against the garda whistleblower was completely false and had been made because a councillor had made a copy and paste mistake.
Ms D had never made the more serious allegation and had been keen to correct the error.
She is due to give her evidence next week and this morning the Tribunal discussed if her evidence should be heard in private or if the media should be allowed to attend.
Ms D’s legal team said they didn’t mind if recognised media outlets attended but her identity should remain anonymous and the public should be excluded.
While lawyers for various media organisations said bonafide members of the press should be present to report on the evidence.
Sgt McCabe’s own counsel said he didn’t say why the public should be excluded and said he didn’t see any intimidation from Joe or Josephine soap.
Mr Justice Peter Charleton said he would make his ruling in due course.
