Updated 22.45

THE TAOISEACH ENDA Kenny has apologised to Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

Speaking today in the Dáil, the Taoiseach said that he “had no difficulty apologising to Sergeant McCabe”.

Pressed on the matter by Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, Kenny said that the government regretted the delay in dealing with McCabe’s concerns, which led to the publication of the Guerin Report.

I am sorry for the issues that Sergeant McCabe faced and I am sorry that they weren’t dealt with earlier.

“I’ve said that these people do a service and I will respect that. The government has responded comprehensively to the Guerin report.”

However, the Taoiseach rejected suggestions from Adams that the government had not reacted quickly enough to the issues surrounding policing.

He said that they had been “comprehensive and decisive”.

Speaking a short time later outside Government Buildings, the newly-appointed Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald echoed Kenny’s words.

She said she would “repeat what the Taoiseach said in the Dáil in relation to Maurice McCabe”.

She also added that she “deeply regrets” the experience of McCabe’s wife and his family based on their experiences as outlined in the Guerin report published last Friday.

- additional reporting Hugh O’Connell

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