Updated 14:35

The HSE has confirmed the counsellor behind an untrue sex abuse allegation against Maurice McCabe was their own employee.

The HSE has also apologised to the garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe over the false sex abuse allegations. 

In a recent statement from the HSE they said "In July 2013 there was an allegation of retrospective abuse made against Garda Sgt. Maurice McCabe.

"In line with process, the HSE’s National Counselling Service referred this allegation to HSE’s Child Protection Services (now Tusla). This matter has been reported quite extensively in the media over the past 48 hours.

They said that the allegations were due to an "administrative error" that was brought to the attention of the National Counselling Service back in May 2014.

The HSE continued by saying "The National Counselling Service responded immediately in May 2014 by bringing this error and a corrected report to the attention of Tusla and an Garda Siochana.

Correct Procedure

The HSE said that "the error was brought to the attention of the HSE’s Regional Manager for Data Protection and Consumer Affairs."

With regard to protocol they said "The HSE is satisfied that correct procedure was followed once this error was brought to the attention of the National Counselling Service.

"An immediate internal review of guidelines, practices and protocols was undertaken within the National Counselling Service to ensure that such an error would not reoccur. Appropriate training was also undertaken.

"Additional supervisory procedures were put in place by the National Counselling Service in relation to the staff member concerned."

They concluded by saying "The HSE apologises unreservedly to Mr. McCabe and his family for the distress caused on foot of this error. The HSE is making arrangements to offer this apology formally to Mr. McCabe as soon as possible."