An Aggregate from Irish Blog, on the current raging controversy in the Irish Times, on how Gerry Adams and provisional Sinn Fein handled child rape, within the ranks of the Provisional IRA. Having personally resigned from Sinn Fein about 30 years ago having managed their office in Newry, I did receive unsubstantiated reports of such activity. I was however powerless to take direct action. I did however approach senior members of the organization about this and other matters of secrecy.
I was told that at that time, we were in a war situation, where we could not afford the luxury of transparency. I subsequently resigned because of this transparency issue. There are many sincere Irish republicans from Republican Sinn Fein, who believe, that their communities are still in a war situation, with all of the evils, that all wars entail. The matter is extremely distressing to the minority of genuine people still alive in Ireland or those who have not emigrated. The gaelic derogatory term sliabheen, means mountain person as in the context of Adam's colleagues remarks, calling his ex colleagues in the real IRA in Derry, neanderthals , but many claim his vocabulary does not extend that far, and that it originally came from Gerry, who is a more pensive politician.
Fintan O’Toole: Tough questions for Adams on child protection
Opinion: SF wouldn’t tolerate evasive answers from other party leaders
Fintan O'Toole
Topics:
News
Politics
Tue, Oct 21, 2014, 12:58
First published:Tue, Oct 21, 2014, 12:01
Dumped out In December 2009, Gerry Adams told RTÉ radio that when, in 1997, he discovered Liam Adams was seeking a Sinn Féin nomination to run in Louth, “I moved immediately both to stop that and to get him dumped out of Sinn Féin without telling people why”.
The truth is that Liam Adams was never “dumped out of Sinn Féin”. A statement in the party’s own newspaper, An Phoblacht, in 2010 acknowledged Liam Adams remained active in “republican circles” and that he in fact became chairman of Sinn Féin’s Lower Andersonstown cumann for some years after 2000. The same statement also said, remarkably, that Gerry Adams was not aware his brother was the head of a cumann in his own constituency. I do not think that claim is credible.
At any point between 1987 and 2009, when he eventually made a statement to the PSNI, Gerry Adams, if he did not trust the police in Northern Ireland, could have gone to the Garda or to social services in the Republic, where Liam Adams worked for two significant periods with teenagers. He did not do so.
North’s DPP announces independent review of Cahill case
Maíria Cahill to meet Taoiseach tomorrow morning 
Enda Kenny says ‘more cases’ in sex abuse cover-up 
Allegations open potentially damaging debate for Sinn Féin 
Ex-IRA member: Cahill’s account of interrogation rings true Into this context came a second disclosure of sexual abuse to Gerry Adams. In 2000, Maíria Cahill had several meetings with him in which, she says, she told that she had been repeatedly raped by a senior IRA figure. This time, the allegations acquired a specifically political dimension – one of which both the British and Irish governments must have been aware.
Restorative justice At the time, as a quid pro quo for not kneecapping people, the IRA was being given significant involvement in the justice system through a scheme called community restorative justice.
In a 2005 public submission, the SDLP specifically referred to a report in the Sunday World in 2000 that a senior IRA figure in community restorative justice was an alleged rapist. This reference was to Maíria Cahill’s allegations.
It is inconceivable that Gerry Adams was not aware both of Ms Cahill’s allegations and of their political import. Yet we are supposed to believe he never asked her about the details of the case.
If Enda Kenny, Micheál Martin, Joan Burton or Peter Robinson had this abysmal record on child protection and this history of evasive answers, we know what Sinn Féin would have to say about it.
That not one of the party’s strong-minded women can manage to say it about Gerry Adams is deeply creepy. If you think ordinary cronyism is bad, consider what this party will do to protect one of its own.
Tue, Oct 21, 2014, 12:58
First published:Tue, Oct 21, 2014, 12:01
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iconoclast
Now that Sinn Féin-IRA’s disgusting hypocrisy, has once, again been laid bare, perhaps Garda Whistle-blowers could at last find somewhere else to take their tales of woe? Given the treatment meted out to Ms Cahill, a victim of the savage crime of rape, it would indeed be truly disgusting if some serving police officers of this State continue to have confidence in an organisation which continues to deny justice, a decent resting-place for their victims of murder-'disappearance,' and... » more
Robespierre
@iconoclast they are entirely separate points. If the Garda did not display worrying standards of internal indiscipline as evidenced by Morris and now the penalty points then this would't arise. Remember, in addition to opposition TDs, the Garda whistleblowers have met and were deemed credible by Varadkar and others. Because of Morris, it is their legal right to go to a TD and sometimes this could involve a democratically elected representative of SF.
Johnny-Bellew
Maíria Cahill's immense courage in the face of the continual claptrap spouted out by the Shinners is quite something. I haven't heard one Shinner who has the guts to break ranks and fully support Maíria. Not one; no surprises there. Continue shining a light into that cesspit, Maíria.
maryobrien
@Johnny-Bellew
Have her parents?
Johnny-Bellew
@maryobrien
Have her parents what?
JayGee
Mairia Cahill comes from a staunch Republican family which has sacrificed much for many years in the Republican cause.
I am inclined to believe her version of events, and hold in contempt those members of SF who in a manner similar to the mental reservationists of the RCC, consider the protection of the Organisation more important than justice for victims.
maryobrien
@JayGee
Like her parents and uncle then?
MountainMan2
@JayGee
Gerry Adams gave himself the right to mental reservation and to lie at will in the quote shown in my contribution above.
Joined at the hip, the RCC, Sinn Fein and the IRA (which still hasn't gone away you know).
OldCodger
Everybody knew these things went on. Everybody knew this when the peace process was agreed. All the commentators said stuff like this would come out and be dealt with as SF - a revolutionary movement - became a part of the political establishment.
We all knew before now; why are we making such a fuss about it now? SF will weather this storm, and will hold together just as Adams kept it together for the peace process; the caravan will move on.
And just for the record, I do not support SF.
mattbrown
@OldCodger "Everybody knew these things went on." - these things; i.e. the covering up of child abuse by SF. Really?
"And just for the record, I do not support SF." Hmmm.
Robespierre
@OldCodger Stuff like this... protecting paedophiles and rapists? That kind of stuff. What a strange posting. Have you any empathy?
DeclanRyan
@OldCodger Very well said, I also do not support SF.
maryobrien
@Robespierre
protecting paedophiles and rapists? The Irish people and STate are still supporting them. Hence the miserly sum the Irish are paying out, with the RCC for the abuse inflicted on those weaker than them.
iconoclast
There goes the 'new generation' of Sinn Féiners in politics. Whatever chance they had of credibility and making progress outside their own umbrella-clique, it's well gone now. It is dissapointing that capable and decent and effective Sinn Féin politicians are so ham-strung and compromised by the 'old-guard' and the evil deeds of the past. Perhaps these Sinn Féin young bloods need the moral and physical courage to cut adrift the sad, old millstones of the past- starting with Adams and his...
Robespierre
@iconoclast All it takes for evil to prosper is for good men(sic) to do nothing.
maryobrien
@Robespierre
You mean like the Irish who have stood idly by for decades when unwanted children were used and abused in Irish homes. Everyone knew, from the simple fact that as kids we were threatened we would be sent there if we were bold!
TOOMUCHNOISE
Great article Fintan. I'm not a SF supporter but I have always admired Mary Lou McDonald who is obviously an extremely intelligent, funny, forceful and articulate woman and I am surprised at her attitude to this. She is the natural leader of a SF purely political but the only reason Gerry Adams is still chief is because SF remains a political party backed by a private army. We are at a political crossroads in this country right now and the future threatens to be interesting.............
ardri
Sinn Fein have one hundred per cent supported this woman, what's questionable is Martin and Kenny's decision to abuse her vulnerability in a desperate attempt to ingratiate their parties with the electorate . The dozen or so previous attempts by the gombeen men to damage Sinn Fein with their politics of sleaze didn't work ,neither will this.
BrianClarke
I.m no fan of Gerry Adams or his party but when I was trying really hard to get articles and links to my blog about all of this, several years ago I was censored in all of the mainstream media in Ireland. Enda Kenny, Micheál Martin, Joan Burton and Peter Robinson may not personally have enabled child rape but all of their political parties most certainly did, along with the Irish mainstream media. Ah but now that Gerry's Party threatens to take Government, it's a different story because its not want the banksters want...
maryobrien
@BrianClarke
You will get blasted and accused of being a Shinner now. Because the bovinity of the Irish roars really loudly when they are assailed with complex matters like truth and justice. They don't like to be bothered by such trivia. A lynch mob is their reflex. They still wont shift off their *** to actually do anything though.
Not even for victims of sexual abuse.
maryobrien
So let me understand this:
1 You do not hold Aines Adams mother to have any responsibility.
2.You do not hold Aine Adams to have any responsibility.
3. You do not hold Maria Cahill, and her uncle Joe Cahill, and her parents to have any , responsibility for not going to the police with her allegation of rape.
4.You condemn the IRA for conducting a 'kangaroo' court in the absence of Cahill going to the RUC.
5. You do not condemn Ms Cahill for not following through on her case earlier...
maryobrien
Have they linked Adams to the graves in Tuam yet? It is surely on a matter of time.
MountainMan2
@maryobrien
No - but Adams is still connected with the graves of The Disappeared. Maybe one of these years he will come clean about his role in these most despicable IRA murders
maryobrien
@MountainMan2
Your ignorance is scary. Very very scary. You should dress up as a lynch mobber of Halloween, you are making a good attempt to be judge, jury and executioner in this case.
MountainMan2
Little lies, big lies, dissembling, half truths, evasion and deflection - it must be Gerry Adams talking about the IRA or his own bloody history with that murderous mob!
"I believe Gerry Adams was never a member of the IRA" - it must be Mary Lou or some other senior Sinn Fein Figure!
"We can be revisionist, and that's a good thing to be at times -" : Gerry Adams gives himself permission to lie about the past!
- "but we shouldn't airbrush our history" - except of course when we lie about our...
BrianClarke
@MountainMan2 None of these parties have a right to hold public office, they supervised child rape since the foundation of the two scum states!
maryobrien
@MountainMan2
Oh, well that's ok. The Cahill family is completely off the hook for not defending their daughter. And so is the SDLP, Sunday World, his uncle, your ma, etc etc etc.
GA is the only morally bankrupt TD in the Irish Dail, is that what you are saying?
BrianClarke
You people in the Irish media don't seem to care just how sick Ireland is to informed, intelligent, people around the world, I wouldn't have to go far to see how traitorous the Irish media, along with its bankers are about Ireland and it's people. Beware of the Risen people!
Adams accused Taoiseach of making 'sliabheen' remarks over Mairia Cahill
Fionnan Sheahan and Niall O'Connor
PUBLISHED21/10/2014 | 17:27
VIDEO: Cahill to meet Taoiseach tomorrow
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has clashed with Gerry Adams in the Dail over Mairia Cahill's allegations of sexual abuse cover-up by the IRA and Sinn Fein.
Mr Kenny will refer the case of Ms Cahill's rape to the Oireachtas justice committee for examination.
The Taoiseach told Mr Adams if the allegations were being made about Fine Gael, he "wouldn't last five minutes".
"Not five minutes," he said.
"You attended and spoke to this young woman. And she says you weren't speaking about the weather," he added.
Mr Kenny said the "false assumption of a war being waged" did not justify abductions, shootings or kangaroo courts.
VIDEO: Pressure mounts on Sinn Féin over Maíria Cahill
He is due to meet with Ms Cahill in Government Buildings tomorrow.
The Taoiseach also targeted Sinn Fein vice-president Mary-Lou McDonald for criticism.
"You can't have blind allegiance from your deputy leader," he said.
Mr Adams accused Mr Kenny and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin of "playing politics" with the issue and denied the allegations.
Speaking following his heated Dail exchanges, Mr Adams stood by his claims that there was no Sinn Fein 'cover-up' and insisted that he requested that Ms Cahill's uncle Joe bring the abuse claims to the attention of the authorities.
"Absolutely. I met her at the request of a family member who was quite concerned about her and as I’ve said, on quite a number occasions, when I learned subsequently, remember, Mairia Cahill was an adult at that time, I was well intended in meeting with her," Mr Adams said.
"I met her to help her. Anybody else she’s named in Sinn Fein who I’ve spoken to has assured me that they’ve tried to help her and were well intended in dealing with her.
"And she’s acknowledged that her uncle Joe asked her to go to the RUC and it was at my request that she did that because once it became clear to me, subsequently, that there was this entire situation of alleged abuse, of the IRA, of all of this, I went to Joe and said ‘Joe that needs to go to the RUC’."
Mr Adams also accused Mr Kenny of making “sliabheen” remarks.
“I think the Taoiseach’s comments were entirely reprehensible. I made that clear. The way that he and the leader of Fianna Fail have dealt with this very, very sensitive issue has been to politicise it,” he said ahead of an event at Liberty Hall.
“The assertion, allegation, the accusation that Sinn Fein has been engaged in a cover-up, that’s totally and absolutely untrue. That I have been engaged in a cover-up, that’s totally and absolutely untrue.
“The issue of abuse of any kind is the most heinous kind, most particularly child abuse. Anybody who has any information on this, including the Taoiseach and the leader of Fianna Fail should bring it to the appropriate authorities.”
Mr Adams refused to say whether he believed he has been damaged by Ms Cahill’s allegations.
“The electorate will have the opportunity to judge this and many other issues,” he said.
He added that he would be willing to meet Ms Cahill if she requests to do so.
“We were in touch with her. I am quite prepared, the party is quite prepared, and that’s a matter we can work out with her if she wants to meet with us. I’ll meet with anyone.”
Leitrimlady
I think it's pathetic and hypocritical to hear politicians state "I believe Mairia Cahill". Politicians are not truthful. They all lie. Some lie more than others but in the end they are all liars. They don't care about the truth and they don't care about justice. They care about power and they will say and do anything to keep it.
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Patbolando
If they are found guilty they have the comfort of knowing its wont be a kangaroo court.
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eamonmelia123
As much as this poor girls attacks need to be sorted out and the animal jailed she needs to realise that Kenny will use this to score as many points he can get at the expense of SF simply because SF are going to destroy them at the next election, if this girl thinks that Kenny cares about her she is sadly deluded,
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Katy
@eamonmelia123 She doesn't care, victims never do care about the politics of it. There are more victims out there, three so far were raped by Cahill's rapist. It's not about politics for the victims, it's about getting justice, acknowledgment of wrong doing. If Adams and Mary Lou had done a real mea culpa they wouldn't be in the mess they're in now.
gluglug
There are too many people trying to use this squalid affair for their own personal agendas and something just doesn't smell right. Wnen the hidden agendas are revealed there will be some very unhappy protagonists left with egg on their face.
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Katy
@gluglug oh please -- you keep trying to make this go away using politics -- this is about a 16 year old rape victim who was then further victimized, even terrorized, by the IRA. She wants some kind of justice. Keep on point.
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jamesbond
Hi Spudpotatoe, if you are referring to myself as being F G, it might go some way in explaining why you call yourself spud, clean out your ears
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Patboland6 hours ago
I am sorry but there is not justification in attacking the Government or FF on this. The bottom line is that Sinn Fein having knowingly colluded in sexual abuse of a young girl. That is disgraceful. It cannot be justified in terms of the nationalist struggle. Sometimes the price for a united Ireland is too high. When it involves sexual abuse or the abuse of minors that Lin has been crossed. Surely we should all agree with that?.
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@Patboland
colluded..? has that been proven..
Katy1324 hours ago
@Hope_ @Patboland yes, it has, to my satisfaction, and that of many. It's Mairia Cahill with all of the credibility here, not Gerry and not Mary Lou.
Offaly
@Patboland ''The bottom line is that Sinn Fein having knowingly colluded in sexual abuse of a young girl''
When were Sinn Féin foundguilty of a cover up Pat ? Did I miss something ? Or are you simply taking on board what others are saying without any proof and coming to the conclusion that it is true ? Can I put your mind at ease with the news that the DPP in the six counties are reviewing the case linked to these allegations and Sinn Féin have welcomed this announcement.
Wesley
@Uibhfhailii
You keep believing like the usfeul idiot you are. You're a great party man altogether offaly. I think anyone with a semblance of a brain (maybe if you know someone, you could ask them) can make their own minds up on this matter and it doesen't look good for Dear Leader. Obviously, your moral standards are inferior to most so I won't be expecting any enlightenment from you any time soon.
Uibhfhailii
@Wesley @Uibhfhailii First of all, you can leave the insults to one side. Just because I hold the view that the shameful display of political opportunism by the leaders of FF/FG demonstrated again today in the Dail, surrounding the Mrs Cahill allegations, doesn't necessarily mean I 'am beholding to any party.
FascistsInGov
@Patboland
Magdalene laundries , artane , letterfrack , ferns , etc etc etc
just what did enda Kenny known during his 3 decades in dail eireann ?
Katy1324 hours ago
@FascistsInGov @Patboland Why are you trying to divert attention away from the abuse and mistreatment of Mairia Cahill? Is it an inconvenient truth for SF/IRA?
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SamVin
@FascistsInGov @Patboland The patriots of 1916 were to give us a just society. The survivors gave us the Magdalene laundries etc, etc, etc. Apparently their disciples are of the same vein.
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Spudpotatoe
hasn't abuse been going on in Ireland all the time. The laundry girls that had babies who were abused by the system and then by the nuns. Deaf ears hear no tales and bring things out to suit your needs never helps. Fine Gail seem to be throwing s**t around hoping it will stick to other parties.Clean your own house up first.
Hairylemon
@Spudpotatoe What a pathetic effort of a response. You guys in Norn Iron have been blinded.
jamesbond
what do you say of the word accountability, do you know what it means.
John_h
We have had Gerry Adams role (or non-role) in Jean McConville's murder, his knowledge (or lack of knowledge) of his brothers abuse of his daughter, now again Mairia Cahill's rape and his recollection/denial of all things in past.
If it was any other political party Mr Adam's would have been dropped like a hot potato and his party members would be calling for his resignation and distancing themselves from him as if he had ebola.
Not SF however, they have gathered round him and are fighting off all comers, a bit the British army at Rorkes Drift repelling the Zulus.
It really questions the SF's mindset do they still have military mindset or a political mindset ???
Either way it makes no difference. Gerry Adams will survive, retain leadership of SF and Ms Cahill will be forgotten. When all the dust has settled she will probably have to leave Ireland as the hard line republicans in the north will make her position untenable.
Tony
Are you so naïve that you don't see FF and FG playing politics with this issue simply to garner some votes? Are people that gullible that they actually believe politicans feigning outrage?
Leitrimlady
@John_h
I will not forget Mairia Cahill! Her courage is admirable
Uibhfhailii
''Mr Adams accused Mr Kenny and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin of "playing politics" with the issue and denied the allegations.''
The only sensible piece in this article.
jamesbond
Right or wrong Enda Kenny, Michael Martin, and Gerry Adams have brought this very sad saga of M/S Cahill firmly into the public domain, whilst appreciatig that M/S Cahill highlighted this personal issue, we must give her the benefit that her motive was purely in seeking justice for herself and others in the same circumstances, only M/S Cahill and Gerry Adams truly knows what she sought and discussed, with Gerry Adams, the overwhelming facts acknowledged by all is that she was raped and abused by a person in the I.R.A. which was under the control of Gerry Adams, in my opinion that is why she met him by agreement , Gerry in the interest of M/S Cahill, his organisation, and the upper house, he has the remit to end this now.
Cecil
You had better bring your evidence to the authorities.
Tony
There are no depths Kenny and Martin will not sink to in the hope of getting another vote at SF's expense.
Kenny finally showed his true colours regarding Northern Ireland when he said the "false assumption of a war being waged" - Our Taoiseach clearly just didn't care that Catholics were burned out of their homes, British army in civilian clothes shot dead unarmed innocent people on the street and the British government colluded with loyalist paramilitaries. These victims must have just been under the "false assumption of a war being waged".
This electorate is under no "false assumption" about our great Leader, primary school teacher from Mayo and his true colours. Election please.
Uibhfhailii
@Tony1221 The likes of our current Taoiseach would have demonised the Cahill family and the community they come from in the past, as nothing but '''terrorists''.
Those who follow Reeling in the years, would have seen Joe Cahill pleading with Dublin for help in 1969, when Bombay St, Conway St were being burned by Unionists, for those pleas to fall on deaf ears. Martins and Kenny's parties can share the blame for the way they neglected those people, they were duty bound to protect under our constitution.
JAFFMAN
"Mr Adams accused Mr Kenny and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin of "playing politics"
Unfortunately we only have tweedle dum and tweedle dee to ask the hard question on our behalf but these questions still need to be ask! It has been Sinn Fein that has played politics fast and loose with the plight of this Brave Woman hiding its ugly side from the electorate!
No more excuses Gerry, we don't live in an Islamic State we violence and abuse against woman is tolerated!
