Maurice McCabe says he is happy with the new report from the Disclosures Tribunal, but admits some of the findings are "hard to take".

Justice Peter Charleton issued his third interim report yesterday, in which the Garda whistleblower is praised as a "genuine person" who was "repulsively denigrated for being no more than a good citizen and police officer".

The report is strongly critical of both the Former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and the former Garda Press Officer Dave Taylor – finding that both men were involved in carrying out a “campaign of calumny” against Sgt McCabe.

It is also critical of the child and family agency Tusla for its handling of a false rape claim against Sgt McCabe.

The whistleblower offered his response to the findings on RTÉ's Prime Time programme last night.

He said that he and his family are 'thrilled' the report has been released as "it means it's finished for us now".

He observed: "All is over. I can get back to my normal job hopefully."

On the findings against former Commissioner Callinan and Supt Taylor, Sgt McCabe observed: "I see that finding and it's an astonishing finding.

"But I suppose from the very start of the inquiry I knew that they were involved in it, so it didn't come as a major surprise to me. But... hard to take."

He added that he hadn't read the full 400-page report yet, but he 'accepted all' of what he had seen.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris yesterday said the force "fully accepts the findings of Mr Justice Charleton" - suggesting  it should be used as an opportunity for the force "to change how we operate".

He added: "I will ensure Sergeant McCabe and all Garda personnel referenced in the report receive appropriate supports."

Tusla, meanwhile, again offered a "sincere apology" to the McCabe family for the "impact Tusla’s errors had on them".