Independent review of Maíria Cahill case handling complete

An independent review into how the North's Public Prosecution Service dealt with three cases of alleged sexual abuse by an IRA man against Maíria Cahill and two other women is to be published shortly, the PPS has confirmed.

Last December the North's Director of Public Prosecutions Barra McGrory, QC, called in Sir Keir Starmer to conduct the review following Ms Cahill's allegations that she was raped by an IRA man when she was 16.

Ms Cahill, a grand-niece of prominent republican Joe Cahill, also alleged that the IRA subsequently acted to cover up the abuse.

Sir Keir Starmer, QC, who is a Labour candidate in the Westminster general election, has now completed his report, the PPS said. It was handed to Mr McGrory, who runs the PPS, on Wednesday.

In a statement the PPS said: “The director is committed to publishing the report at the earliest point. The publication date will be finalised with Sir Keir following the (Westminster) general election.”

Ms Cahill and two other women alleged that they were separately sexually abused by IRA member Martin Morris when they were in their teens. The two other alleged victims, who have anonymity, pulled out of the case against Mr Morris when it was being processed to trial.

Ms Cahill, in addition to the rape charge against Mr Morris, alleged four other IRA members had “interrogated” her about her claims.

The cases against Mr Morris and against the four alleged IRA members who allegedly questioned her - Padraic Wilson, Seamus Finucane, Agnes McCrory and Briege Wright - effectively collapsed when Ms Cahill withdrew her evidence. All five were acquitted.

Ms Cahill cited a number of reasons for not proceeding with the case including the length of time - four years - it took to get to trial, “continual adjournments” over the four years, and an alleged prosecution failure to produce intelligence which she believed would have proved her allegations.

Separately, the North’s Police Ombudsman Dr Michael Maguire is investigating Ms Cahill’s complaint that the PSNI failed to adequately deal with the case.

A spokesman for Dr Maguire said that investigation was “ongoing” and was not near completion.

The Maíria Cahill case continues to cause great controversy on the island of Ireland. It is playing into other claims that the IRA acted to secretly move alleged IRA sex abusers south of the Border.

The Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has also faced criticism over this and other alleged cases.

Earlier this year the DUP urged the British government to assist in establishing a cross-Border inquiry into allegations of sex abuse by former members of the IRA.

Mr Adams and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness also called for the creation of an all-Ireland “sex abuse initiative” to address the issue of such abuse across the island.