Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I want to address the courageous and troubling account of the series of events raised by Maíria Cahill regarding the sexual abuse she endured as a teenager and the way in which it was handled when she came forward, particularly by the leader of the Sinn Féin Party, as well as the deputy leader, herself a woman. I call on her to state publicly if she will believe Maíria Cahill’s story. It takes the ultimate courage and strength to come forward and reveal such personal information and waive her right to anonymity as Maíria Cahill has done. I believe she should be commended on her strength, for sharing with the nation what she has endured and for her pursuit of justice and truth. The admission by the leader of Sinn Féin, Deputy Gerry Adams, that kangaroo courts were used to carry out investigations into sexual abuse allegations need to be more fully addressed by him and his party.

Maíria and other victims who reported their abuse and were subjected to such a justice system are owed an apology without excuses. I believe Maíria and other victims of abuse deserve more than this from Sinn Féin. The slow trickle of information that has been dripping out, little slips and admissions over the past week on foot of a BBC programme, is wholly unacceptable. The most recent admission yesterday evening by Deputy Gerry Adams, when questioned by the media, that he acknowledged he knew of an IRA link to the Maíria Cahill case is a complete turnaround from what we got this time last week.

It is time to be truthful. I welcome this morning’s news that the Oireachtas justice committee may invite Maíria Cahill and Deputy Gerry Adams in. I am abhorred by this morning’s story of a second victim from County Louth backing up everything that Maíria Cahill has said about IRA-Sinn Féin treatment of abuse victims and these kangaroo courts. I welcome the move of the justice committee.