Provo abuse victim ‘sickened’ by SF comments in Dail
IRA abuse victim Paudie McGahon has spoken of his family’s distress following the contributions by senior Sinn Fein politicians during this week’s debate on the whistleblower controversy.
Mr McGahon, who was raped by a suspected IRA figure before being subjected to a kangaroo-court style interrogation, said he and his wife Renata were left deeply upset after watching the Dail debate on Wednes- day night. At one point during the debate, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said the event surrounding garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe and Tusla (where a false allegation of sexual abuse was made) would not be tolerated in “any other modern state”.
His deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said the Government has been “rendered definitely finished” as a result of the controversy.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, Co Louth man Mr McGahon said Sinn Fein has no interest in trying to assist him and his family. He emphasised that he has huge regard for Mr McCabe but accused Sinn Fein of hypocrisy. “It’s so difficult to sit back and watch the Sinn Fein party speak about victims when they do nothing for people like me and have time after time compounded our pain,” he said.
“Sinn Fein have no credibility to go into the Dail and talk about helping victims. It’s sickening, to be honest,” he added.
Mr McGahon and another man were subjected to an alleged rape in his own bedroom in Louth in 1992. Ten years later and in the same location, they were subjected to a kangaroo-court style interrogation.
One senior alleged IRA figure who conducted the probe is alleged to have told Mr McGahon, a father-of-three, not to go to the gardai.
Mr McGahon has said his life is “up and down” since he took the decision to go public. He said he continues to suffer vile abuse at the hands of Sinn Fein figures in his home town of Ardee. But he says he will continue to fight for justice.