Inquiry into handling of Maurice McCabe file to be held in private

An inquiry into allegations against two social care workers, relating to their roles in the handling of a file containing a false allegation of child sexual abuse against Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe, will be held in private, a committee has ruled.

A request for the hearing to be held privately was granted on the balance of evidence presented during a preliminary privacy application on October 23rd, and a further privacy application made on Monday morning, submitted by Lorna Lynch, SC, on behalf of one of the social workers before the hearing.

The fitness-to-practise inquiry is being held by CORU, the regulatory body of health and social care professionals.

The reasoning for the application being granted will be published in due course.

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The social workers – who were employed by Tusla, the child and family agency, between 2013 and 2016 – face allegations of professional misconduct and poor professional performance.

A hearing into allegations against a third social worker, also relating to the mishandling of the file, has been deferred.

The hearing is expected to run until Friday.

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