Sinn Fein failed to co-operate fully as police probed Mairia Cahill sex abuse claims: Ombudsman
A POLICE Ombudsman’s report has revealed that Sinn Fein members “did not co-operate” fully with police investigating the sexual abuse of Mairia Cahill by an alleged IRA member.
The findings of the report were first published in September, but new information relating to the conduct of Sinn Fein members involved in the investigation has now been made public.
The Belfast Telegraph has seen documents stating that the Major Investigation Team’s (MIT) chief inspector, who probed the IRA’s own investigation into Ms Cahill’s abuse, told the Police Ombudsman that “none of the Sinn Fein members were going to co-operate with police” and that “he never expected them to provide statements confirming that the IRA had conducted an investigation”.
Ms Cahill, a great-niece of prominent Belfast republican Joe Cahill, claimed she was sexually abused as a 16-year-old by republican Martin Morris. Mr Morris, who denied all wrongdoing, was later acquitted of rape and IRA membership when the case against him collapsed.
Ms Cahill, now an SDLP councillor, had said the republican movement’s response to her claims was to subject her to an IRA interrogation.
❝ The Ombudsman letter proves that Sinn Fein members did not fully co-operate with the police
Speaking on Newstalk radio in October 2014, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald insisted Sinn Fein had co-operated with the police investigation into Ms Cahill’s abuse and accused her of lying about a cover-up by the party.
“Specific assertions have been made by Mairia in respect of Sinn Fein; she has accused us of covering up abuse. She has asserted that we have refused to co-operate with the police and Garda and the PSNI, presumably on matters pertaining to abuse. I want to say again, categorically that is untrue, that is a falsehood,” she told the programme.
And speaking last week in Dublin, Mrs McDonald said she had “no regrets” over her handling of Ms Cahill’s case and did not think a letter she received from Ms Cahill required a response. However, the Sinn Fein leader did reiterate her “unreserved apology” to Ms Cahill.
The Police Ombudsman’s report into the police handling of Ms Cahill’s case said that Sinn Fein members would not co-operate with the MIT investigation into the IRA’s internal investigation of Ms Cahill’s abuse.
Police accepted written witness statements from a number of Sinn Fein members in relation to the Public Prosecution Unit’s (PPU) investigation of the abuse, including from then party leader Gerry Adams.
A PPU detective constable described a meeting with Sinn Fein members to record their statements as “difficult and confrontational”.
The Ombudsman’s report said that at the meeting the members were advised to submit prepared witness statements via their solicitor.
It said that had Ms Cahill’s case gone to full trial “all witnesses could have been compelled to have attended court and to be subject to questioning”.
Ms Cahill told The Belfast Telegraph that she has been vindicated, given Mrs McDonald’s past comments about her.
“It took me four years to prove I was telling the truth, but the Ombudsman letter proves that Sinn Fein members did not fully co-operate with the police by any normal person’s definition. In a matter of child sexual abuse, that is a disgrace,” Ms Cahill said.
“Only last week, Sinn Fein were releasing statements telling people that abuse victims should be treated properly. People can see how they treated me once I went public. They have yet to admit that this was wrong, or to take responsibility for it.
“Worse still, they are continuing to assert that their behaviour towards me was correct, by not having any regrets. No victim of abuse should ever be treated by a party machine, a leader, or anyone else in this manner.”
Ms Cahill called on the Sinn Fein leader to meet her face-toface and apologise for her conduct.
“I am in the Dail on Tuesday at an event that McDonald is also invited to. If she’s any humanity left about her, she will meet with me and apologise to my face for her and Sinn Fein’s treatment of me, which she has still yet to admit,” she said.
Sinn Fein has not yet responded to a request for comment.