The former garda sergeant Maurice McCabe has received a special recognition award by the Road Safety Authority for his work highlighting the cancellation of penalty points.

The RSA said Mr McCabe's work has helped to ensure motorists with bad driving behaviour receive their due penalties, thereby helping to keep the roads safe.

Mr McCabe has said he is thrilled in getting the award, saying it means an awful lot to him and to his family.

He said he was delighted that he was being recognised in relation to road safety.



.⁦ @Shane_RossTD⁩ congratulates Maurice McCabe on award...says nothing could be more well deserved pic.twitter.com/6SlftkEQeY — Conor Hunt (@conorfhunt) December 12, 2018

At the end of October, Mr McCabe retired from An Garda Síochána, following 30 years service, weeks after the publication of the Disclosures Tribunal report in which Mr Justice Peter Charleton described the Cavan-based sergeant as having done the State "considerable service".

The Tribunal found former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and Supt David Taylor had engaged in a smear campaign against Mr McCabe in response to his whistleblowing.

The report found that Mr McCabe was a genuine person who had the interests of the people of Ireland in his mind at all times.

Yesterday, the High Court heard that the State admitted liability in two of a number of claims brought against it by Mr McCabe.

One was a personal injuries claim against the Garda Commissioner, Ireland and the Attorney General.

Liability had also been admitted in another case also against the same defendants, which was lodged in 2011, where Mr McCabe claims he was defamed.

No details of the exact nature of the claims were given in court.