Morris tribunal:The senior garda whose report into Garda wrongdoing in Co Donegal led to the Morris tribunal has told the inquiry that anonymous allegations passed to two Opposition TDs had a devastating effect on his career.
Assistant Commissioner Kevin Carty was sent to Co Donegal to investigate complaints by the McBrearty family in 1999.
In June 2000, anonymous allegations against Mr Carty and others were brought to the attention of Labour's Brendan Howlin and Fine Gael's Jim Higgins.
Extensive inquiries by the Garda and tribunal investigators have found no evidence to substantiate any of the allegations.
"We are seven years down the line now, these allegations are still there," Mr Carty said.
"If you go to the internet, put my name in the internet, you'll get Kevin Carty sensational allegations."
Mr Carty said that in his current position with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, he was aware people meeting him would check his background. "I spend a lot of my time visiting ministers of the interior in developing countries, countries in transition in the Caucasus, in Central Asia, in relation to policing. And one of the things we are trying to instil into policemen in this part of the world is accountability, rooting out corruption. And it has been actually said to me 'Mr Carty, you have corruption in your country as well, you've been under investigation'," he said.
"You spend the first 10, 15 minutes of a consultation explaining that there is no substance to these allegations, and you don't know whether these people are actually believing this or not."
Mr Carty said he felt his career was hampered by the allegations, which he had to consider when the position of Deputy Commissioner was advertised last year.
Mr Carty said that "on a level playing field", he would have had a good chance of being appointed to the role, but "honestly hadn't the confidence" to send in an application.
"I couldn't see how a minister of justice or a government could appoint me with these allegations hanging over my head," he said.