The Garda Commissioner's insisting lawyers representing the force at the O'Higgins Commission were never instructed to question the integrity of whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe or to make a case he was acting maliciously.
Noirin O'Sullivan has also asked that the Garda Ombudsman investigate, in the public interest, claims that two senior officers sought to misrepresent at the Commission a meeting they had with Maurice McCabe.
For more than a week there have been calls on Noirin O'Sullivan to clarify the instructions to lawyers representing her and other Gardai at the O'Higgins Commission.
In a lengthy statement running to three pages, she insists she is bound to operate within the law, not disclose evidence at a Commission, adhere to privilege between lawyers and clients and respect basic fairness.
But she does state that the Garda Siochána's legal team was NOT at any stage instructed to impugn the integrity of Sgt McCabe or to make a case he was acting maliciously.
However she goes on to say that she cannot see how it would be in any way unreasonable, improper or avoidable to appropriately test and cross examine the evidence of all persons giving evidence including sgt McCabe.
She also re-iterates that dissent is not disloyalty and says she met Transparency Ireland yesterday to work with the force to create an environment to ensure protected disclosures.
On the suggestion two senior officers sought to misrepresent before the Commission the contents of a meeting they had with Sgt McCabe, Noirin O'Sullivan has asked the Tánaiste and Justice Minister to refer that to GSOC for an investigation in the public interest.
