Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak today on sexual abuse by members of the provisional republican movement. As we know, this is a discussion that has come about owing to the bravery of Maíria Cahill, who has spoken out and drawn attention to the major problem that is sexual abuse by the Provisional IRA.

I wish to express my admiration for Maíria Cahill and wish her well. There is a number of investigations taking place into her case in Northern Ireland and I hope they will reveal the truth about what happened to her and expose those who mistreated her so badly. In revealing her experience, Maíria Cahill has highlighted the practice of moving suspected sexual abusers south of the Border into counties such as mine, County Louth, in order to avoid publicity and the full rigour of the law. This is very worrying and I would like to address it in more detail.

Over recent weeks, there has been widespread speculation that suspected child sex abusers were expelled from Northern Ireland by Sinn Féin-IRA and relocated to other areas, including County Louth. I have been inundated with telephone calls, emails and calls to my office in Dundalk about this issue. People are worried and afraid they are living next door to suspected child abusers. Understandably, they want answers.

It is simply unacceptable that Gerry Adams, a Deputy for County Louth, has not exposed the people in question. Deputy Adams, who knows the "decent men" of the republican movement well, must have some information that would prove useful to the authorities in investigating these crimes. The names of the people need to be reported and their present whereabouts confirmed. At present, suspected abusers are living among communities who have no idea of the dangers they may be exposed to, and their crimes must be investigated.

Dundalk is a highly populated, busy town. Thousands of people are living in estates and along busy roads there. The lucky ones among us know their neighbours but, realistically, the majority of people do not, or they do not initially when they move to an area. These people are contacting me asking whether they could be living beside a sexual abuser, whether they should allow their children to play on the greens, and whether it is safe.

It is obvious by his actions, or lack thereof, that Deputy Gerry Adams has no regard for the well-being of children or for the people of County Louth. This is clear from how he acted in regard to his own brother, a convicted sexual abuser who lived in Dundalk for some time. Deputy Adams was aware that his child-abusing brother was living and working in Dundalk for many years. The Deputy’s niece, Áine, told him in 1987 what had happened to her and in 2000 Liam Adams himself confessed to him. Even if Deputy Adams did not know about his brother's actions in 1987, he definitely did by 2000, yet he did nothing to report his brother's crime to anyone until 2007, a full seven years after his brother confirmed that the abuse had taken place. Deputy Adams did nothing to inform or protect the people of Dundalk when Liam Adams was living there and working as a youth worker.

Deputy Adams does not have a good track record on disclosing what he knows about sexual abusers, and he does not have a good record of putting the well-being of the people of Dundalk before his own political position. There is no issue more serious than the sexual abuse of children and minors, and on this occasion Deputy Adams needs to speak out and address truthfully the many questions that remain unanswered. Deputy Adams and other members of the republican movement need to step up and they must give whatever information they have to the PSNI and Garda Síochána.

Does Deputy Adams know of any suspected sexual abusers who were moved from Northern Ireland to counties in the Republic? Are any of these suspected abusers living and working in Dundalk? If he does not have information himself, as he has claimed in the past, does he know who may? Can he assist the Garda and PSNI by directing them towards some of the “decent republicans” he knows so well and who may be able to provide information? Can he categorically assure the people of Louth that there are not suspected abusers living among them? Can he assure us that if he did have information, he would make it available, even if it related to someone he knows well or who is close to him? Can we be confident that he will not treat any information he may have in the same way as he treated information he had about his brother, adopting an attitude of saying nothing until one hears more?

This is not just about Deputy Adams, although I believe he has a major role to play as he is leader of Sinn Féin. Sinn Féin members are diligent and obedient to their leader but, on this occasion, I appeal to them and anyone associated with the party to make information they have public. These people should be empowered to come forward. It would be helpful if Deputy Adams led by example and came forward himself with a full account of everything he knows on this issue. In doing so, he would give hundreds of people the confidence to do the same.

What happened to Maíria Cahill is not an historical event as it happened in 1997. My children were very young in 1997 and I cannot help thinking about how I would feel if something happened to them. There are claims that sexual abuse was widespread in the provisional republican movement, and it was not a million years ago. The people who carried out the abuse are still around. They are still young and may still be active.

Throughout his political career, Deputy Adams has evaded question after question, but on this occasion he cannot be allowed to avoid my questions and those of the people who have been in contact with me on this issue. Maíria Cahill has been contacted by other victims of paramilitary sexual abuse, who are still traumatised by what happened to them. The fact that none of their abusers has been held to account in any way cannot be helpful in getting over this.

For me and Deputy Adams, this is a local issue. I do not want to play political football on this. I have laid out my questions on behalf of the people of County Louth and we all expect answers.

Already too much time has been wasted. We have a right to know the truth. I appeal again to Deputy Adams to answer the questions I have put to him and I urge anyone with information to come forward to the relevant authorities.

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