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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| SF suspend member on abuse claim | SF suspend member on abuse claim |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A member of Sinn Fein has been suspended from the party over allegations of child abuse. | A member of Sinn Fein has been suspended from the party over allegations of child abuse. |
| The Sunday Tribune newspaper carried a report from a woman who claimed she was abused when she was 10 years old. | |
| Sinn Fein confirmed that a member had been suspended without prejudice from party membership and activities. | Sinn Fein confirmed that a member had been suspended without prejudice from party membership and activities. |
| The Tribune also featured an interview with another woman who claimed she had been repeatedly raped by a prominent IRA man in west Belfast. | |
| In the interview, the young woman claimed she had been brought face to face with the man and that the IRA had offered her a counsellor. | |
| She said she believed this would be a charade, as it would be an IRA-friendly counsellor. | |
| She claimed the man had been put under house arrest but she was later told he had "escaped". She believed that he was helped to move to Donegal. | |
| A spokesman for Sinn Fein said the party refuted any allegation of a "cover up" by the party. | |
| "Our position on these matters is crystal clear. At all times the welfare of children is paramount. The people who should investigate allegations of abuse are the statutory authorities charged with this task - the PSNI/Gardai and the Social Services. | |
| "If an allegation of sexual abuse is made against a Sinn Fein member, the party ensures that the matter is reported to the relevant statutory authorities. | |
| "The member is suspended from the party without prejudice. This is in contrast to other political parties which have allowed members against whom allegations are being made to remain politically active until the completion of the legal process. | |
| "A Sinn Fein representative is suspended without prejudice from party membership and all party activities. including work as a public representative." | |
| He said the suspension of the party member was activated after the police began their investigation into "an allegation of historic abuse". | |
| "This suspension was activated after the PSNI commenced an investigation into an allegation of historic abuse," a spokesman said. | "This suspension was activated after the PSNI commenced an investigation into an allegation of historic abuse," a spokesman said. |
| "It is not the job of Sinn Fein to establish guilt or innocence and we will await the outcome of the police investigation." | "It is not the job of Sinn Fein to establish guilt or innocence and we will await the outcome of the police investigation." |