A social worker with the child and family agency, Tusla, has told the Disclosures Tribunal that she accepted that she missed crucial information on Sergeant Maurice McCabe's file before drafting a letter informing him of a false sexual abuse allegation made against him.
The tribunal, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Peter Charleton, is examining allegations that senior gardaí were involved in a smear campaign against Sgt McCabe, among other issues.
Kay McLoughlin said she did not fully review his file in 2015 and missed several pages which corrected an inflated allegation made against him.
The tribunal has heard that a 2006 allegation of child sexual abuse made against Sgt McCabe was dismissed by the DPP.
It later resurfaced in 2013 and was incorrectly inflated to a more serious abuse allegation which was passed to Tusla and to gardaí.
The tribunal is examining whether senior gardaí may have used this false allegation to discredit Sgt McCabe.
Ms McLoughlin drafted a letter in May 2015 to inform Sgt McCabe that the allegation had been made against him.
She sent the draft to two colleagues - Seamus Deeney and Gerard Lowry.
Mr Lowry has told the tribunal that he did not read the attached letter.
Mr Deeney replied by pointing out the discrepancies on the file in relation to the allegation.
He asked Ms McLoughlin to take five steps to resolve the discrepancies before sending the letter.
She did not do so other than attempting to contact Ms D to schedule a meeting, which Ms D did not attend.
Ms McLoughlin then sent the letter to Sgt McCabe in late December 2015.
She told the tribunal that she accepted that the letter should not have been sent. She said it was inappropriate and she took responsibility for it.
She said its purpose was to inform Sgt McCabe that Tusla had concerns and to afford him an opportunity to respond.
She denied that she was out to get Sgt McCabe although she said she was aware of media coverage about him. She said she treated all cases similarly.
SC Diarmaid McGuinness for the tribunal asked if she was intent on assisting senior gardaí and giving them ammunition against Sgt McCabe.
She said absolutely not and that she had no cause to have disagreements with people.
This afternoon, Ms McLoughlin went on to say that she was not acting as a puppet for the gardaí when she made additional errors in working on Sgt McCabe's file.
Ms McLoughlin said she had no agenda and was not aware of any agenda in relation to Sgt McCabe.
Lawyers for the gardaí asked her whether she had any direction or influence from the gardaí and she said she did not.
Justice Charleton also asked her if she was a puppet for the gardaí and she said she was not.
The Tribunal will hear legal submissions tomorrow on whether evidence from Ms D should be heard in private.
Ms D made the original complaint against Sgt McCabe in 2006.
Ms D's counsel and counsel for Sgt McCabe are expected to make submissions along with media organisations.
