Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Cahill rejects SF apology over her sex abuse claims
MAIRIA Cahill has rejected an apology from Mary Lou Mcdonald over claims her party covered up sex abuse allegations against one of its members.
Ms Cahill had demanded the Sinn Fein president say sorry in the wake of a damning police watchdog probe into how her case was handled.
A grand-niece of prominent Belfast republican Joe Cahill, she claimed she was sexually abused as a 16-year-old by alleged IRA member Martin Morris.
Mr Morris, who denied all wrongdoing, was later acquitted of rape when the case against him collapsed.
INTERROGATION
Ms Cahill alleged the republican movement’s response to her claims was to subject her to an IRA interrogation.
Mrs Mcdonald said the party now had “robust procedures in place” for mandatory reporting of abuse allegations.
She added: “I deeply regret these procedures were not in place at the time of Mairia Cahill’s disclosure. For this I unreservedly apologise.”
However, in a tweet last night, Ms Cahill said: “The apology from Mary Lou Mcdonald is woefully inadequate.
“It fails to: A) Admit IRA investigation; B) Admit SF cover-up of abuse; C) Apologise for her and her party’s treatment of me in public. They told everyone I was a liar. Now, let’s hear them admit I told the truth.”
Chief Constable George Hamilton apologised for police failings.