Tusla must explain false allegations— Daly

Copy and pasting error by Child and Family Agency is incredible and hard to comprehend

Tusla – the Child and Family Agency – must explain before the Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs how they sent false allegations of child sex abuse against a garda whistleblower to An Garda Síochána, Fine Gael TD Jim Daly has said.

Deputy Daly who is Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs and represents the Cork South West constituency, said what has emerged on Thursday evening in relation to false allegations against Sgt Maurice McCabe is staggering and of the utmost concern.

“This is incredible and quite hard to comprehend what has occurred here against a serving garda member.

“Tusla is the State body responsible for the protection and wellbeing of children across this country. That is their purpose – to protect children and their interests – and not to send files of false allegations to gardaí for further investigation,” Deputy Daly said.

“The explanation that it was a copy and pasting error or an administrative error is incompetence of the highest degree. Is this credible? It needs to be outlined fully.

“A man’s reputation has been left tarnished here and we need to have a full account of how this exactly came about. How did this error of false child sex abuse allegations end up in the file of a garda whistleblower and then be forwarded to An Garda Síochána?

“There needs to be a full account here by Tusla of their role in this matter before the Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs,” Deputy Daly said.

“This is not just of concern in relation to this particular case. How many other times has such an incidence occurred where a serious error was made and then passed onto An Garda Síochána for investigation?

“Are there other serious mishandling errors occurring within Tusla? How are they going about fulfilling their duties. High standards are demanded and expected of this State funded agency but where were they? Can we have confidence in their work,” Deputy Daly asked.
“Tusla’s management committee must appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs and provide a thorough explanation of what occurred here and related issues.

“I have written to Tusla to let them know of my concerns and have requested that they appear before the committee at the earliest opportunity,” Deputy Daly added.