Maíria Cahill briefs Labour TDs in advance of Dáil debate

Maíria Cahill, the Belfast woman who claims she was raped by an IRA member when she was a teenager, was in Leinster House yesterday on the eve of a Dáil debate on claims of sexual abuse by members of the republican movement.

Ms Cahill met members of the parliamentary Labour Party during her visit and had discussions with Tánaiste Joan Burton. It was her second meeting with the Labour leader.

More than 20 TDs plus members of the Labour Party staff attended yesterday’s meeting, which lasted for more than an hour and a half.

Ms Cahill outlined the details of her case and told the Labour TDs why she felt impelled to challenge the republican leadership about their handling of it.

“Her courage is amazing,” one TD said. “She outlined in a calm manner the sinister way in which her character has been attacked by Sinn Féin and republican sympathisers.”

Dáil debate

In today’s Dáil debate Ms Burton is expected to focus on the way Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has dealt with Ms Cahill’s case and the parallels with the way he handled the conviction of his brother Liam for child abuse.

The Tánaiste will also ask Mr Adams to account for the way Ms Cahill has been attacked by Sinn Féin since she went public with her claims.

A Fine Gael spokesman said last night that one of the main questions Mr Adams must address is where republicans suspected of child abuse in Northern Ireland were moved to by the IRA.

Last week, in a speech at a fundraising dinner in New York, Mr Adams told his American supporters that Enda Kenny, Joan Burton and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin were prepared to employ any “dirty trick, any slander, any lie” to stem the rising tide of support for Sinn Féin.

He insisted that the “scurrilous accusations” being made against him and the party were “untrue”.

Leader statements

Today’s debate is scheduled to last for more than three hours and will involve statements from the leaders of all the major political parties including Mr Adams.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny will open proceedings, followed by the leaders of Labour, Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the technical group, all of whom can speak for half an hour.

Once the party leaders have finished, other members of the Dáil will be allowed to speak for 10 minutes each. The debate is due to begin at 2.39pm and finish by 6pm.