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Northern Ireland Orders Inquiry Into Rape Charges Against I.R.A. Member Northern Ireland Orders Inquiry Into Rape Charges Against I.R.A. Member
(35 minutes later)
DUBLIN — An independent inquiry will be established to determine how state prosecutors in Northern Ireland handled allegations by a Belfast woman that she was repeatedly raped as a teenager by a senior Irish Republican Army member and then secretly interrogated about it by that organization, officials said Tuesday.DUBLIN — An independent inquiry will be established to determine how state prosecutors in Northern Ireland handled allegations by a Belfast woman that she was repeatedly raped as a teenager by a senior Irish Republican Army member and then secretly interrogated about it by that organization, officials said Tuesday.
Northern Ireland’s director of public prosecutions said the review would consider interlinked cases relating to the woman, Mairia Cahill, who also claims that Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein leader, is complicit in a cover-up of the I.R.A.'s actions.Northern Ireland’s director of public prosecutions said the review would consider interlinked cases relating to the woman, Mairia Cahill, who also claims that Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein leader, is complicit in a cover-up of the I.R.A.'s actions.
Ms. Cahill says she met Mr. Adams a number of times and told him about the rape and the subsequent interrogations. He has acknowledged that the meetings took place, but denies that Ms. Cahill ever mentioned any rape.Ms. Cahill says she met Mr. Adams a number of times and told him about the rape and the subsequent interrogations. He has acknowledged that the meetings took place, but denies that Ms. Cahill ever mentioned any rape.
Earlier this year, citing a lack of confidence in the legal process, Ms. Cahill withdrew her evidence in separate cases against Martin Morris, the I.R.A. leader who she alleges raped her, and four I.R.A. members who she says repeatedly questioned her in a series of “kangaroo courts.” Earlier this year, citing a lack of confidence in the legal process, Ms. Cahill withdrew her complaints in separate cases against Martin Morris, the I.R.A. leader who she alleges raped her, and four I.R.A. members who she says repeatedly questioned her in a series of “kangaroo courts.”
Ms. Cahill, now 33, appeared on a BBC documentary last week, and her case has since gained prominence in the media, ratcheting up pressure on Mr. Adams and the Northern Ireland authorities. Her great-uncle, Joe Cahill, was a founding member of the modern-day I.R.A. Ms. Cahill, now 33, appeared on a BBC documentary last week, and her case has since gained prominence in the media, ratcheting up pressure on Mr. Adams and the Northern Ireland authorities. A great-uncle, Joe Cahill, was a founding member of the modern-day I.R.A.
The director of public prosecutions, Barra McGrory, said that while it was not appropriate for the Public Prosecution Service to discuss the allegations, an independent inquiry into the collapse of the cases was warranted.The director of public prosecutions, Barra McGrory, said that while it was not appropriate for the Public Prosecution Service to discuss the allegations, an independent inquiry into the collapse of the cases was warranted.
“I consider that there are particular challenges in prosecuting complex and interlinked cases, as in this instance, involving serious sexual abuse and terrorist-related charges and involving multiple complainants and multiple defendants,” he said.“I consider that there are particular challenges in prosecuting complex and interlinked cases, as in this instance, involving serious sexual abuse and terrorist-related charges and involving multiple complainants and multiple defendants,” he said.
“This independent review will consider all aspects of the prosecution of these cases,” he added, “And if there are lessons to be learned, we will do so, openly and transparently.”“This independent review will consider all aspects of the prosecution of these cases,” he added, “And if there are lessons to be learned, we will do so, openly and transparently.”
There is also a separate investigation into how the police handled Ms. Cahill’s allegations.There is also a separate investigation into how the police handled Ms. Cahill’s allegations.