Sinn Fein kept log of its members at time of rape probe
Party’s 1999 rulebook said roll must be kept in ‘strict custody’
SINN Fein branches were instructed to keep in “strict custody a roll of its members” at the time it is alleged that Mairia Cahill’s suspected abuser was suspended from the party.
Mary Lou McDonald said she didn’t know if Martin Morris was suspended from Sinn Fein as the party’s “record-keeping was not as it is now 20 years ago”.
However, a newly unearthed copy of Sinn Fein’s constitution and rules from almost 20 years ago states that party cumann had to hold in “strict custody a roll of its members”.
The rulebook published in October 1999 states this membership roll and other financial documents “shall be open to inspections by the Comhairle ceantair and Ard Comhairle members”.
RUC intelligence uncovered as part of a Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland investigation into Ms Cahill’s rape case suggested Mr Morris was suspended from Sinn Fein in around 1999 as he was suspected of abusing children.
Mr Morris denies the allegations and was acquitted of rape when his trial collapsed in 2014. Ms McDonald said she could not “discount” the alleged paedophile may have been a Sinn Fein member.
She also said there was no record of Mr Morris being suspended from the party.
After the Ombudsman’s report was published, Ms McDonald said she regretted Sinn Fein did not have “rigorous procedures” for dealing with child sex abuse cases at the time of Ms Cahill’s ordeal.
However, the Sinn Fein constitution sets out in detail procedures for suspending members and dealing with sexual assault and harassment allegations. “Where allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault are made, they should be referred to An Ard Comhairle,” it states.
The document says all charges against members must be made in writing and signed.
Members accused of an infringement of party rules are given a copy of the written complaint and asked to appear at a Sinn Fein meeting.
The rulebook says Sinn Fein’s An Ard Comhairle has the power by a “two thirds majority to suspend any member before a duly convened meeting called for that purpose”.
Yesterday Sinn Fein said the party rules from 1999 didn’t contradict Ms McDonald’s comments on Ms Cahill.
“This document in no way contradicts Mary Lou McDonald’s comments in relation to Mairia Cahill. In fact, it confirms the Sinn Fein president’s assertion that the party did not have mandatory reporting as a policy at that time as it does now,” the party said.
“In relation to the roll of members, it was not as it is now at that time, regardless of what the constitution of the time says.
“We have no record of Mr Morris ever being a member of Sinn Fein and he was certainly never brought before the Sinn Fein Ard Comhairle to discuss any allegations made against him.”