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Maíria Cahill: Irish parliament debates allegations Maíria Cahill: Irish parliament debates allegations
(35 minutes later)
The Irish parliament (Dáil) is debating allegations of sexual abuse by members of the republican movement arising from the Maíria Cahill case.The Irish parliament (Dáil) is debating allegations of sexual abuse by members of the republican movement arising from the Maíria Cahill case.
The debate involves statements from the leaders of all the major political parties, including Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams.The debate involves statements from the leaders of all the major political parties, including Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams.
Maíria Cahill claimed she was raped as a teenager by a suspected IRA member and later interrogated by the IRA.Maíria Cahill claimed she was raped as a teenager by a suspected IRA member and later interrogated by the IRA.
Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Enda Kenny said her claims were "chilling".Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Enda Kenny said her claims were "chilling".
The Dáil is currently hearing statements from members on the allegations and alleged movement of abusers from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland.The Dáil is currently hearing statements from members on the allegations and alleged movement of abusers from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland.
Mr Kenny said Ms Cahill's allegations were "sincere and dignified".Mr Kenny said Ms Cahill's allegations were "sincere and dignified".
He said "instead of manning up" and doing what real men would have done, which would have been to comfort her, the IRA did the "polar opposite and objectified and humiliated her all over again with their kangaroo court."He said "instead of manning up" and doing what real men would have done, which would have been to comfort her, the IRA did the "polar opposite and objectified and humiliated her all over again with their kangaroo court."
"They inflicted on her an extravagant cruelty," he said."They inflicted on her an extravagant cruelty," he said.
Ms Cahill is watching the proceedings from the public gallery. Ms Cahill has been watching the proceedings from the public gallery.
Mr Kenny said that in the case of Ms Cahill, Sinn Féin and the IRA "put the institution first" and covered up the abuse so the "untouchables would remain untouchable".Mr Kenny said that in the case of Ms Cahill, Sinn Féin and the IRA "put the institution first" and covered up the abuse so the "untouchables would remain untouchable".
He described them as "republicans who thought so much of this republic, that they would 'honour us with their rapists and give us their child abusers".He described them as "republicans who thought so much of this republic, that they would 'honour us with their rapists and give us their child abusers".
Ms Cahill, from Belfast, told the BBC's Spotlight programme last month that she had been raped by an alleged IRA member in 1997, when she was 16.Ms Cahill, from Belfast, told the BBC's Spotlight programme last month that she had been raped by an alleged IRA member in 1997, when she was 16.
She further claimed that the IRA had subjected her to an internal inquiry in 1999 that culminated in her being forced to face her alleged abuser.She further claimed that the IRA had subjected her to an internal inquiry in 1999 that culminated in her being forced to face her alleged abuser.
The man she accused, Martin Morris, has consistently denied her claims and was acquitted of all charges.The man she accused, Martin Morris, has consistently denied her claims and was acquitted of all charges.
Fine Gael TD for Meath East Regina Doherty told the chamber she will hand over information to police on Friday about eight alleged abusers, who she claimed, were facilitated by Sinn Féin in moving to the Republic of Ireland.Fine Gael TD for Meath East Regina Doherty told the chamber she will hand over information to police on Friday about eight alleged abusers, who she claimed, were facilitated by Sinn Féin in moving to the Republic of Ireland.
Ms Doherty said she was too afraid to name them in the Dáil on Wednesday.Ms Doherty said she was too afraid to name them in the Dáil on Wednesday.
She said she was "dizzy" from the amount of changes in Gerry Adams' story about an IRA investigation being carried out into the allegations made by Ms Cahill.She said she was "dizzy" from the amount of changes in Gerry Adams' story about an IRA investigation being carried out into the allegations made by Ms Cahill.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said: "The evidence is overwhelming that within the communities which the Provisional IRA worked to dominate, abuse of children was frequent and any action which was taken was designed to limit the publicity rather than to ensure justice.Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said: "The evidence is overwhelming that within the communities which the Provisional IRA worked to dominate, abuse of children was frequent and any action which was taken was designed to limit the publicity rather than to ensure justice.
"This was known at the top of both parts of the movement and it was actively colluded in. This not only continued after the ceasefires and the Good Friday Agreement, it has continued to this day."This was known at the top of both parts of the movement and it was actively colluded in. This not only continued after the ceasefires and the Good Friday Agreement, it has continued to this day.
"There was widespread abuse. There is an ongoing cover-up.""There was widespread abuse. There is an ongoing cover-up."
Mr Adams said his party was not involved in any cover-up of abuse.Mr Adams said his party was not involved in any cover-up of abuse.
He told the Dáil he believed Ms Cahill when she said she was the victim of sexual abuse.He told the Dáil he believed Ms Cahill when she said she was the victim of sexual abuse.
All victims deserve support, he said, to bring the abuser to justice.All victims deserve support, he said, to bring the abuser to justice.
Mr Adams reiterated that many people in the nationalist community in Northern Ireland in the past turned to the provisional (IRA) movement to deal with abuse.Mr Adams reiterated that many people in the nationalist community in Northern Ireland in the past turned to the provisional (IRA) movement to deal with abuse.
He said alleged sex abusers in Northern Ireland were exiled by the provisional movement.He said alleged sex abusers in Northern Ireland were exiled by the provisional movement.
However, he said many victims of abuse had been failed by the state, the authorities and in some cases failed by republicans.However, he said many victims of abuse had been failed by the state, the authorities and in some cases failed by republicans.
Mr Adams told the Dáil that if he or Sinn Féin were at fault, he would accept and acknowledge that.Mr Adams told the Dáil that if he or Sinn Féin were at fault, he would accept and acknowledge that.
However, he said he and other republicans who spoke to Ms Cahill did so out of concern for her welfare.However, he said he and other republicans who spoke to Ms Cahill did so out of concern for her welfare.
He said "surely there is agreement" in the Dáil of the urgent need for an "all-island victim-centred process for those who were failed and let down in the past".He said "surely there is agreement" in the Dáil of the urgent need for an "all-island victim-centred process for those who were failed and let down in the past".