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Mairia Cahill 'told Gerry Adams' of IRA rape claim | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A woman who claimed the IRA forced her to confront her alleged rapist has told of a meeting she said she had with Gerry Adams about the allegation. | A woman who claimed the IRA forced her to confront her alleged rapist has told of a meeting she said she had with Gerry Adams about the allegation. |
Maíria Cahill said she was raped as a teenager and was later interrogated by the IRA about her allegations. | Maíria Cahill said she was raped as a teenager and was later interrogated by the IRA about her allegations. |
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. |
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said he had co-operated with the PSNI in the course of their investigation. | |
Ms Cahill also claimed she was subjected to a kangaroo court, while the IRA tried to find out if it was her or her alleged rapist who was telling the truth. | Ms Cahill also claimed she was subjected to a kangaroo court, while the IRA tried to find out if it was her or her alleged rapist who was telling the truth. |
Ms Cahill waived her right to anonymity to speak to BBC Northern Ireland's Spotlight programme, broadcast on Tuesday night. | Ms Cahill waived her right to anonymity to speak to BBC Northern Ireland's Spotlight programme, broadcast on Tuesday night. |
'Face-to-face meeting' | 'Face-to-face meeting' |
The Belfast woman is a member of one of the republican movement's best-known families. | The Belfast woman is a member of one of the republican movement's best-known families. |
Her great-uncle, Joe Cahill, was one of the founders of the Provisional IRA and a long-time associate of Mr Adams. | |
Ms Cahill said that in 1997, when she was 16, she was subjected to a 12-month cycle of sexual abuse, including rape, by a man who was believed to be a member of the IRA. | Ms Cahill said that in 1997, when she was 16, she was subjected to a 12-month cycle of sexual abuse, including rape, by a man who was believed to be a member of the IRA. |
Ms Cahill described how the IRA questioned her repeatedly, often several nights a week, for months about the abuse allegations, before summoning her to a meeting with her alleged abuser in early 2000. | Ms Cahill described how the IRA questioned her repeatedly, often several nights a week, for months about the abuse allegations, before summoning her to a meeting with her alleged abuser in early 2000. |
"They told me that they were going to read my body language to see who was telling the truth, and that they were going to bring him into a room," she said. | "They told me that they were going to read my body language to see who was telling the truth, and that they were going to bring him into a room," she said. |
"I immediately panicked, because the one thing that you don't want to do is come face to face with the guy who has abused you." | "I immediately panicked, because the one thing that you don't want to do is come face to face with the guy who has abused you." |
Ms Cahill told the programme that the IRA investigators told her that they did not know who to believe and afterwards told her parents about their investigation. | Ms Cahill told the programme that the IRA investigators told her that they did not know who to believe and afterwards told her parents about their investigation. |
Ms Cahill was still politically opposed to the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the forerunner to the PSNI, and said she was not ready to defy the IRA and go to the police. | |
Her parents convinced her to see a counsellor. | Her parents convinced her to see a counsellor. |
In July 2000, the Cahill family said they were suddenly told that Martin Morris had been placed under house arrest by the IRA and later fled from Belfast. | In July 2000, the Cahill family said they were suddenly told that Martin Morris had been placed under house arrest by the IRA and later fled from Belfast. |
In the programme, Ms Cahill detailed the first of several meetings she had with Gerry Adams about her abuse allegations. | In the programme, Ms Cahill detailed the first of several meetings she had with Gerry Adams about her abuse allegations. |
"The most disturbing thing of that conversation for me was then he said: 'Well, you know Maíria, abusers can be extremely manipulative.' | |
"And you know, he kind of put his hand on his chin and he sat forward a wee bit, and he said: 'Sometimes they're that manipulative', that the people who have been abused actually enjoy it. | "And you know, he kind of put his hand on his chin and he sat forward a wee bit, and he said: 'Sometimes they're that manipulative', that the people who have been abused actually enjoy it. |
"I was absolutely horrified. And I, at that point, got very, very angry and said to him: 'Well I didn't enjoy it'. | "I was absolutely horrified. And I, at that point, got very, very angry and said to him: 'Well I didn't enjoy it'. |
"And at that the meeting was over for me, there was no point. | "And at that the meeting was over for me, there was no point. |
"He apologised on behalf of the republican movement for what had happened to me." | "He apologised on behalf of the republican movement for what had happened to me." |
Two of those Ms Cahill identified in the programme as having led the IRA internal inquiry into the allegations are well-known figures. | Two of those Ms Cahill identified in the programme as having led the IRA internal inquiry into the allegations are well-known figures. |
Padraic Wilson was once the leader of the IRA in the Maze Prison, and is now considered a supporter of the peace process. | Padraic Wilson was once the leader of the IRA in the Maze Prison, and is now considered a supporter of the peace process. |
Seamus Finucane is a brother of the solicitor Pat Finucane, who was shot dead by loyalists. | Seamus Finucane is a brother of the solicitor Pat Finucane, who was shot dead by loyalists. |
Ms Cahill later went to the police, and a case was brought against the alleged rapist and those said to have been involved in the IRA inquiry. | Ms Cahill later went to the police, and a case was brought against the alleged rapist and those said to have been involved in the IRA inquiry. |
All charges were dropped, and the accused rapist was acquitted after Ms Cahill withdrew her evidence. |
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