Documents from the O'Higgins Commission of Inquiry suggest the Garda Commissioner claimed whistleblower Maurice McCabe was 'motivated by malice'.

The Irish Examiner reports the inquiry was informed by lawyers for the Commissioner that Sgt McCabe told two officers complaints about malpractice were motivated by malice towards a senior officer.

However, Sgt McCabe presented the Commission with a tape of the meeting in question that disproved the allegations.

No mention of the comments featured in the final report.

It said that Sgt McCabe was an entirely truthful witness.

Mick Clifford of the Irish Examiner spoke to Newstalk Breakfast about the O'Higgins report and the latest claims.

"I think that in the report, apart from junior and probationary officers, very little blame is attached, except in minor ways, to anyone of any senior level within the force," he explained.

He added that questions over whether the culture in which whistleblowers come forward has changed or not is one that was not addressed by the Commission:

The O'Higgins Commission examined alleged Garda malpractice in the Cavan/Monaghan division between 2007 and 2008.

In his review, Judge Kevin O'Higgins criticised how some cases have been handled and how some victims were treated by investigators.

However, he found no evidence of Garda criminality or corruption.