Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have been in these Houses for the past 12 years and I can honestly say, with my hand on my heart, that I have never witnessed the fear in and around parliamentary debate that is at the heart of this story. I am absolutely sickened by what I have witnessed from Sinn Féin since Maíria Cahill spoke out about the absurdity and evil inflicted on her by a rapist. The Sinn Féin-IRA sex abuse nexus has visited sheer horror on that brave individual and every one of the hypocritical Sinn Féin Deputies has come into the Chamber and been responsible for the manner in which she has been intimidated, bullied and questioned about her mental health. Week after week they throw arrows at the Government while we try to fix the public finances and they treat a young woman like this. They should be ashamed of themselves. There is no space in a parliamentary democracy for that kind of bullying or intimidation. Every day since that brave lady spoke out they have added to it because they have re-traumatised her through social media and their keyboard warriors. If they have any scintilla of credibility left they would stand down their keyboard warriors. It is absolutely disgusting and unacceptable.

Deputy MacLochlainn spoke on the radio today and was asked four times by Jonathan Healy on Newstalk would he let the Garda know if he heard there was a child abuser working with children, and four times he refused to answer that question. I never heard such rubbish. Sinn Féin has claimed ownership of the founding document of this State, the Proclamation. Let me remind the Sinn Féin Members that it says, “cherishing all the children of the nation equally”.

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