Of course I believe her, SF candidate says of Cahill abuse claims

Sympathy: Liadh Ni Riada A CLEAR divide has opened up in Sinn Fein over how to respond to Mairia Cahill’s abuse claims after Irish presidential candidate Liadh Ni Riada diverged from the line set by deputy leader Michelle O’Neill.

Ms Ni Riada said she believes Ms Cahill’s story of being abused and subjected to an IRA ‘kangaroo court’ in which she was forced to confront her attacker.

“I do, of course (believe her). And I have absolutely sympathy for Mairia. I think, look, with Mairia Cahill no amount of apologies will ever go far enough because you can never undo that past,” she said.

It marks a shift from the attitude taken by Mrs O’Neill, who said such questions were not for her. “I don’t think that that’s an issue for me,” Mrs O’Neill said.

In 2010 Ms Cahill told officers she had been sexually abused by a republican — who was acquitted of rape and IRA membership and denies all wrongdoing — on a number of occasions from 1997 to 1998.

In the wake of a Police Ombudsman report into how police handled the allegation, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said she “unreservedly apologised” for the lack of procedures in place for mandatory reporting of abuse at the time.

However, this was overshadowed by Mrs O’Neill’s comments on a BBC programme where she insisted it was “not for me to say” whether Ms Cahill’s version of events stood up.

Ms Ni Riada faced the same question yesterday and spoke about the need for structures to be in place to help abuse victims.

“You probably never get over that kind of thing. But you have to try and ensure that people get through in the best way possible,” she commented.

Asked if Mrs O’Neill’s response had added to Ms Cahill’s hurt, she replied: “No, I don’t think so. Like I said, any apology that anybody does will never, ever undo it.

“It will never go far enough so I can only wish her the very best in the future and hope that she gets through this.”