IRA abuse victim Cahill urges voters to reject Sinn Fein
A FORMER SDLP councillor and IRA sex abuse victim said she was hurt by calls for tactical voting by those who had offered her support, as the move could return Sinn Fein MPs — particularly in North Belfast.
Mairia Cahill called on voters to reject Sinn Fein and back election candidates who will take their seats in Westminster.
She said her abuse case had been raised in Westminster with the Northern Ireland Secretary by the DUP’s Nigel Dodds.
“Had North Belfast elected a Sinn Fein MP, it wouldn’t have been raised at all,” she said in a Facebook post.
She said she was also supported by Alliance in her case, the only other party running in North Belfast.
Ms Cahill said the electorate should “vote wisely” and return a politician who will not leave the constituency “voiceless”. Leaflets with the message were distributed to homes in North Belfast.
“I don’t have the resources to post this through every home in NI, but if I did I would,” she said.
The SDLP stood aside in North Belfast, it said, in order to maximise the pro-Remain vote. It is the first time in its history it will not be putting forward a candidate in the area.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has said it would be better to have Sinn Fein candidate John Finucane “sit in the house” rather than have Mr Dodds returned to the Commons.
The party denied it was part of a pact, although Sinn Fein stood aside in South Belfast and endorsed Claire Hanna in her bid for the DUP-held seat.
Ms Cahill said it was “hurtful” to see those that had supported her case call for tactical voting which could return a Sinn Fein MP, particularly in North Belfast.
“I hope [the electorate] search their conscience before they [vote], particularly in North Belfast,” said Ms Cahill.
“The SDLP took away that choice and if their supporters go in the direction of Alliance, at least they will take their seat.”
She urged the public not to “turn a blind eye” to Sinn Fein’s record on abuse and “send a message to the Sinn Fein leadership that you stand with victims, by not voting for Sinn Fein”.
She added: “People make the abstentionist argument, but for me it does not make sense to have an MP who does not take their seat. North Belfast has high suicide rates, high depression rates, is lacking inward investment and most of the work is left to the voluntary and charity sectors to pick up. And to have an MP not go to Westminster to legislate is not the answer.”
A great-niece of prominent Belfast republican Joe Cahill, Ms Cahill claimed she was sexually abused as a 16-year-old by an IRA member. Ms Cahill said the republican movement’s response to her claims was to subject her to an IRA interrogation and have her confronted by her alleged abuser.
Sinn Fein said it has ensured the voice of the people “has been heard where it counts”.
“We have used our influence in Dublin, Brussels and Washington to make it clear that the DUP and their Brexit agenda do not speak for the north,” it added. “We will continue to give a voice to everyone in the community.”