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Controversial BBC programme on IRA rape case shortlisted for award Controversial BBC programme on IRA rape case shortlisted for award
(34 minutes later)
BBC Northern Ireland’s Spotlight has been garlanded with awards for a documentary despite having attracted considerable, and increasing, controversy.BBC Northern Ireland’s Spotlight has been garlanded with awards for a documentary despite having attracted considerable, and increasing, controversy.
Now I note that A woman alone with the IRA is under consideration in the 2015 British Press Awards with its presenter, Jennifer O’Leary, having been shortlisted in the local heroes category.Now I note that A woman alone with the IRA is under consideration in the 2015 British Press Awards with its presenter, Jennifer O’Leary, having been shortlisted in the local heroes category.
The programme, which was originally broadcast on 14 October 2014, related the story of Maíría Cahill who told of being raped by a member of the IRA at the age of 16 in 1997. When she made this known years later, she said she faced what amounted to an IRA “kangaroo court”.The programme, which was originally broadcast on 14 October 2014, related the story of Maíría Cahill who told of being raped by a member of the IRA at the age of 16 in 1997. When she made this known years later, she said she faced what amounted to an IRA “kangaroo court”.
But, as I reported at the time, the IRA challenged her account of its actions and there were also questions about the failure of the programme to mention that she had been a leading member of a dissident republican grouping.But, as I reported at the time, the IRA challenged her account of its actions and there were also questions about the failure of the programme to mention that she had been a leading member of a dissident republican grouping.
She had joined the Republican Network for Unity (RNU), an organisation formed specifically to oppose Sinn Féin’s support for Northern Ireland’s police service (PSNI). That fact was reported by the Irish edition of the Mail on Sunday.She had joined the Republican Network for Unity (RNU), an organisation formed specifically to oppose Sinn Féin’s support for Northern Ireland’s police service (PSNI). That fact was reported by the Irish edition of the Mail on Sunday.
Cahill countered that she had been an RNU member for an “extremely brief” period and had been its national secretary for only a couple of hours.Cahill countered that she had been an RNU member for an “extremely brief” period and had been its national secretary for only a couple of hours.
In subsequent months, Cahill received sympathetic hearings from some of Ireland’s most senior politicians, including the leader of the Irish Labour party, Joan Burton.In subsequent months, Cahill received sympathetic hearings from some of Ireland’s most senior politicians, including the leader of the Irish Labour party, Joan Burton.
This culminated in October this year in Cahill being nominated by Burton to be the party’s candidate for election to the Seanad, Ireland’s senate and parliamentary second chamber.This culminated in October this year in Cahill being nominated by Burton to be the party’s candidate for election to the Seanad, Ireland’s senate and parliamentary second chamber.
Voting for her particular type of Seanad seat is restricted to an electorate drawn from TDs (MPs) and senators. And it is widely anticipated that she will emerge as victor when the results are announced tomorrow (13 November).Voting for her particular type of Seanad seat is restricted to an electorate drawn from TDs (MPs) and senators. And it is widely anticipated that she will emerge as victor when the results are announced tomorrow (13 November).
However, she has refused to take part in any media debates with other candidates and has thus avoided answering questions about her membership of the RNU. This has resulted in a chorus of criticism over recent weeks.However, she has refused to take part in any media debates with other candidates and has thus avoided answering questions about her membership of the RNU. This has resulted in a chorus of criticism over recent weeks.
One prominent senator, David Norris, was reported in the Irish Times as saying: “Questions have been raised about her involvement with dissident republicans. There has been no explanation whatsoever.”One prominent senator, David Norris, was reported in the Irish Times as saying: “Questions have been raised about her involvement with dissident republicans. There has been no explanation whatsoever.”
He pointed out that Catherine McCartney, the sister of Robert McCartney, who was murdered by the IRA outside a Belfast pub in 2005, had objected to Cahill’s nomination because of her past RNU links. And other senior politicians have also called for Cahill to “clarify” her links to the RNU. They have pointed to objections to Cahill’s nomination by Catherine McCartney, the sister of Robert McCartney, who was murdered by the IRA outside a Belfast pub in 2005.
In a letter to TDs and senators, Catherine McCartney said Cahill’s RNU membership “cannot be regarded as a minor issue or an irrelevance to the appointment to a political office.”In a letter to TDs and senators, Catherine McCartney said Cahill’s RNU membership “cannot be regarded as a minor issue or an irrelevance to the appointment to a political office.”
She wrote: “I am asking the Labour party and Ms Cahill to provide a credible explanation regarding emerging revelations of her involvement with RNU and to do so before the Seanad election... I am calling on Joan Burton and the Labour Party to reflect on their decision to nominate Ms Cahill to the Seanad position.”She wrote: “I am asking the Labour party and Ms Cahill to provide a credible explanation regarding emerging revelations of her involvement with RNU and to do so before the Seanad election... I am calling on Joan Burton and the Labour Party to reflect on their decision to nominate Ms Cahill to the Seanad position.”
But McCartney’s passionate open letter about Cahill has received very little media coverage in Ireland in contrast to the huge publicity given to her attacks on the IRA. But McCartney’s passionate open letter about Cahill has received very little media coverage in Ireland in contrast to the huge publicity given to her previous attacks on the IRA.
Meanwhile, the Spotlight programme has been picking up several awards. The latest came last Thursday at the Belfast Media Festival, where it was named as the best current affairs programme in the inaugural regional Royal Television Society (RTS) Northern Ireland awards.Meanwhile, the Spotlight programme has been picking up several awards. The latest came last Thursday at the Belfast Media Festival, where it was named as the best current affairs programme in the inaugural regional Royal Television Society (RTS) Northern Ireland awards.
Among other awards, it previously won the scoop of the year category at the RTS journalism awards. Among other awards, it previously won the scoop of the year category at the RTS journalism awards and Cahill won a “special recognition” prize in Irish Tatler’s women of the year awards.
But this widespread acceptance within the industry of the programme’s merits overlooks the ongoing controversy. The man accused by Cahill of raping her was acquitted of all charges against him following two separate court cases in 2014. But this widespread acceptance within the media industry of the programme’s merits overlooks the ongoing controversy. The man accused by Cahill of raping her was acquitted of all charges against him following two separate court cases in 2014.
That is not to say that Cahill was not raped. Nor does it negate her view that the IRA handled her complaint clumsily and insensitively. But in Northern Ireland, where almost every aspect of life has a political context, it did mean that vital information was denied to viewers.That is not to say that Cahill was not raped. Nor does it negate her view that the IRA handled her complaint clumsily and insensitively. But in Northern Ireland, where almost every aspect of life has a political context, it did mean that vital information was denied to viewers.
And the issue of Cahill’s RNU membership remains a live issue across the island of Ireland.And the issue of Cahill’s RNU membership remains a live issue across the island of Ireland.
NB: I have written in the past for An PhoblachtNB: I have written in the past for An Phoblacht