Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has met Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe and his wife for the first time.
The commissioner travelled to the McCabes' home in Co Cavan for the meeting with Maurice and Lorriane, which lasted just over one hour.
It is understood that the Garda Commissioner apologised to Sergeant McCabe on behalf of the force and thanked him sincerely for bringing all his matters forward.
Earlier this month a report published by Justice Peter Charleton, who is chairing the Disclosures Tribunal, found Sgt McCabe was smeared by the former Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan, and his then Press Officer, Superintendent David Taylor.
The report concluded that Sgt McCabe is a genuine person who at all times has had the interests of the people of Ireland uppermost in his mind.
Speaking at the time, Sgt McCabe described the finding as "hard to take".
Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan delivered an apology to Sgt McCabe in the Dáil last week.
Mr Harris told a meeting of the Oireachtas Justice Committee this morning that he spoke with Sgt McCabe the afternoon the report was published.
Asked by Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway if he had met Sgt McCabe, Mr Harris told the meeting that he would be seeing him this afternoon "as it turns out".
Additional reporting Ailbhe Conneely
