An open appeal to all Republicans from Ms Cahill
This statement comes to Slugger from Ms Cahill. It is carried in full.
Over the last number of weeks, there have been several allegations circulating – alleged to have been perpetrated by members of the Republican Movement.
There has been mixed reaction to this within the Republican Community, but particularly those within the Provisional republican movement, and those within Sinn Fein Circles. This reaction ranges from outright disgust, horror, condemnation, to the very damaging “turn a blind eye and say nothing” approach. There are obviously people understandably angry as a result – not least the victims. There is a lot of hurt within this community also, hurt which has been compounded by recent contradictions, mistruths, outright denials and certain media spin, which has the potential to deflect away from the real issue – the alleged cover up of paedophilia within certain quarters. Whatever that hurt, there are also families hurting too, people who are trying to come to terms with their lives right across this island, and trying to deal with the fact that members of these families were abused.
There are also parents, rightly angry and worried about their children. People are now backtracking through the years, wondering if their children have come into contact with perpetrators – and they are also rightly questioning if they trust the people they know now. This is a massive issue, and it is a disgrace that alleged child abusers have had free reign to have access to other children. Collectively, we now know more about the issue of sex offenders and reoffending rates. It is likely that perpetrators do not rehabilitate by just simply moving on somewhere else. We know as republicans of a number of cases being discussed at present – is this just the tip of the iceberg? How many more children have been put at risk as a result of mishandling, and in some cases planned facilitation of moving people around the country?
I also want to make it clear, paedophilia is not restricted to members of the Republican Movement. Unfortunately, paedophiles ingratiate themselves in all walks of life. In some instances they are our relatives, friends, priests, professionals, community and youth workers, lawyers, teachers, doctors – the list is endless. No one is blaming the republican movement for members of that movement who inflicted sexual abuse on others.
The blame, however is rightly centred around how the republican movement dealt with the issue, in several cases. It is clear from these cases that not once did the people involved either in so called investigating or in listening, directly report to any of the authorities. They also retraumatised victims of sexual abuse by either their chosen action, or inaction. It is also abundantly clear, for anyone who wishes to take the blinkers off, that paedophiles have been able to move around the country and further afield. In some cases they continued to masquerade as republicans, which in turn afforded them protection, or at the very least a degree of trust, which then also in turn made it easier for them to do what they did, unchecked. That is disgraceful, and brings a deep sense of shame on anyone who continues to support the republican ideology. The fault for this lies squarely with those in positions of power who espoused themselves as the epitome of republicanism, individuals who were looked up to by some, and who now feel tarnished by that association.
There are people out there now who have knowledge in different parts of Ireland on similar allegations of sexual abuse. Are you one of them? There are also people who have heard things on the grapevine about similar alleged cover-ups. Again, does this apply to you?
By not speaking out, you allow yourself to become complicit in the same alleged collective cover-up. I am appealing directly to all republicans from all persuasions to tell what you know. No perpetrator should be allowed to continue to abuse. No movement should give them succour by shielding them. And no republican should sit on the fence on this issue, waiting on other victims to come forward in the hope that the full story should start to emerge.
Be proactive. Do not continue with the legacy of silence. Out all the cases of child and adult sexual abuse. Highlight any suspicion, or knowledge of cover ups. Do this through whatever channel is comfortable for you. An email has been set up, by myself to deal with this issue. If this is an avenue you feel comfortable with using, use it.
I also want to directly appeal to those still within Sinn Fein. I am aware that some of you refuse to believe that this happened at all. People will make up their own minds on the issue. However, as a human, there has to be a shadow of doubt in your mind. Ask the hard questions, and demand an answer. If you are not happy, demand again. No one can afford to put politics over the safety of children. As a human being, you cannot afford to stay silent on this issue. Do the right thing.
Email: {encode=”exposethetruth2010@hotmail.com” title=”exposethetruth2010@hotmail.com”}
Is mise le meas
******* Cahill
Background
EXCLUSIVE – Gerry Adams ignored two more rape victims
Grand-niece of Provo legend endured horrific sexual abuse
Sinn Fein denies mishandling abuse claim
‘Article was accurate and truthful account’ – rape victim
You people really aren’t used to backchat are you?
To both Eileen and Ms. Cahill, best of luck in both providing assistance to those who have been suffering in isolation and in casting out the arrogant, selfish and cruel perverts taking advantage of the vulnerability of children.
It is universally understood that in conflict, children suffer the most. But sadism directed at children is more than any sane person can stomach. I hope you both find easier days ahead.
Thanks for the clarification, Ms Cahill. It wasn’t clear from your post if you were attempting to provide a service to people who have suffered sexual abuse; and if so, whether you were qualified or resourced for that purpose. It’s the first step in seeking assistance that is probably the hardest for a victim to take if the abuse is not recent, but once taken, it’s obviously important that it is handled appropriately, expediently and professionally. And, by the way, you should probably be prepared for some malicious e-mail.
Jimmy, I don’t think they even grasp just how seriously ordinary people view sex abuse, and how disgusted they are by how others have reacted and are still reacting to it. The only folks that the smear merchants are smearing with their antics are their own side – and big time.
Of all the possible responses, going after the RCC has to be the most boneheaded imaginable. They really are doubling down on this.
Alias
I do not know the extent or depth of Child Sexual Abuse related material available on tv, radio, newspapers or other such media in the North or the extent of the interest in these there in these matters. Perhaps some one up will enlighten me.
What I can say is that in the South, thankfully, we have had sufficient coverage of this vile activity and hear so much from victims of their dreadful and harrowing experiences that no one can be of any doubt as to what the effects of it were on all concerned.
Southern Republican and elected representatives certainly knew how serious the problems associated with it were on this side of the border and I find it difficult to believe that Northern Republican public representatives were not aware of what was occupying much of public time down here.
Why then in recent years was there no effort, or at least none that I am aware of, made to deal with the problem up there or even to determine the extent of it. The Nuremberg Defense is not available to any public Representatives regarding Child Sexual Abuse.
These abuses when exposed will not alone cross the religious and cultural divides in the North, they also given the unstable nature of large areas of Northern Society for so many years, be expected to well exceed the norm for other communities in these Islands.
The first concern and primary focus must always be for the victims and the people best equipped to deal with the victims are the professional services. Until Republican Leaders admit that these problems exist in their areas and these problems are openly discussed, a culture that will encourage victims to come forward will not exist.
As to the fine, courageous women that broke the long silence, they too like their first Southern counterparts can expect to see the messengers attacked before the message gets through.
Just finished skimming through todays The Sunday Tribune, no articles or comment carried re the Tyrell or other abuse stories. A full p.12 devoted to Sinn Fein and their Southern Political performance. Six lines embedded in the general text of that relate to Liam Adams.
So much for Republican claims that the previous coverage was only to kick the Shinners. This was a legitimate news story that could have run and run if this was the intent. And since when was the Indo media ever friendly to Republicans any way so what is new ?
Mick as Rusty has posted the same/similar material elsewhere in the past under a real name I thought it was open knowledge, however I’ll play the game.
(regardless, like many of the old school I am virtually off the site anyway – ah where are the old crew)
Anyhoo’s back to the point I’ve been trying to make.
Which centres on what exactly are the correct procedures for victims of child abuse and what is the process.
To my knowledge regardless of who is contacted, there is a legal requirement to report child abuse of any extent to the police, is this true?
I continue to press my point that I find it concerning that child abuse is been equated with adult rape in how it is perceived by both police and the courts.
Mick, it may well be your site, however you do have a duty of care, and as this post calls for victims and people with knowledge of child abuse to send an email of child abuse to a hotmail account I believe you have an obligation to give what is considered by the authories the correct advice.
Possibly a relevant post on Slugger would be to list how the victims,SF, the republican movement, the police and social services reacted to these crimes and why and to compare them to how things should have happened.
For my critics, read this one piece, note the relevant timeline, and then ask yourself why Gerry is being singled out:
http://www.tribune.ie/article/2010/jan/17/adams-was-told-about-what-x-had-done-to-me/
So, social services knew, as they removed X from the home. A physician knew. A school knew. Etc. And some others in Sinn Fein knew before Gerry did. But all I read here on Slugger and in the press is Gerry failed to do this and Gerry failed to do that, when fact of the matter is, of 3 alleged victims, 2 were known to responsible authority before being known to Gerry.
And for the incredibly stupid among you, and you know who you are, how does Gerry “cover up” what some others in responsible authority already know? So before I lose my lunch, could some of you kindly stop repeating this nonsense about some Sinn Fein “cover up”. Maybe you might listen to Ms. Calder, who commented on the cited piece, and remarked, in pertinent part:
“Social Services and the police have many questions to answer regarding Liam Adams”
So too with respect to X.
Now for more of the absurd (another comment on the piece):
“God help us if policing and justice are devolved into the hands of SF.”
No, ma’am, God help you if your responsible authority continues to behave the way that it already has with respect to Aine and X.
Lastly, since I’m too lazy right now to look it up, when did, excuse me, do you all have a mandatory reporting law, and if so, when was the law enacted? You see, in my jurisdiction, the sunny aloha state, the social services, the doctor, the head shrink, and the school each have the mandatory duty to report. So why the need for X to go to the police in 2008? Why the need to go to Sinn Fein? Meaning, if X didn’t herself go the police, what with all that mandatory reporting being done, why didn’t the police go to her?
Sorry, I ended my bout of laziness and looked it up. From the NSPCC, back in 05:
In England, Scotland and Wales there is no formal requirement in law to report child protection concerns to the statutory authorities. However, in Northern Ireland, Section 5(1) of the Criminal Law Act (1967) provides for a criminal offence of failing to disclose an arrestable offence to the police, which, de facto, includes most offences against children.
Oh, and by the way, for the soul who called me coward, well, hardly. I’ve spent more time than I care to remember representing mom and/or dad in the child abuse and/or neglect proceeding. So been there and done that.
Techinically in Northern Ireland – even if your best friend tells you she has shop-lifted, doesn’t have a TV license or was sexually abused as a child you are legally required by statute to report to the police. I know of hundreds more alleged sex offenders than Mr Adams and Sinn Fein – the difference is though – if I have flouted the law it has been in respecting their wishes – not to try and cover up the crimes of my family and colleagues.
To clarify – the wishes of the victim – not the alleged perpetrator.
Slappymcgroundout
Just to put it in laymans terms, accusations are that a leading republican repeatedly raped a young woman and sexually abused her two cousins. Ms Cahill tells a convincing story and I believe her, why would she and her two cousins make this up. Is the perpetrator still at large – yes, and how is that, because other leading republicans spirited him over the border, he was not punished for his crimes. One would have to think that, they never believed Ms Cahill and her two cousins and spirited him away, hoping it would all go away, or they did believe Ms Cahill and her cousins and decided this was punishment enough by expelling him from the six counties. Is this morally right from a republican viewpoint. Did the punishment fit the crime. I am a republican Ms Cahill and from West Belfast, I hope you get justice and closure.
To add to my last, you all might want to try:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/vol07_Ch0346-0398/HRS0350/HRS_0350-.htm
Just hit “next” and “back” to scroll forward and back. That’s how not complicated your statutory authority can be, though you might want to provide a gradation on the penalty for not reporting, say, the more serious the abuse turns out be, maybe we jump the penalty to misdemeanor and not mere petty misdemeanor. And kindly note what this law does. It establishes a duty. This law provides for a criminal penalty. However, the tort law recognizes the tort of negligence, i.e., someone owed you a duty and breached that duty by failing to exercise reasonable care, you were damaged as result and so please pay me $$$ by way of compensation for my general and special damages. You would argue that the law establishes a duty and that you are a member of the class of humans intended to be protected by imposition of that duty. That’s how it works here in the land of the free and the home of Atlanta Braves.
Slappymcgroundout
This country, all of it, has been blighted by child abuse for decades. The time has come to deal with each case thoroughly and openly.
The accusation against Gerry Adams is not that he committed the crime but that he failed to deal with at least two rape allegations in the proper manner, and that he supported his brother when he should have supported his niece. His statements have been, to say the least, misleading.
The other allegations are that members of some republican groups aided and abetted child abusers and rapists in their escape from the law and justice.
DO NOT FOR ONE SECOND think I lump all republicans together in this. My constant cry has been that continued denial and evasion will damage the cause so many of them worked so hard for.
No one should ever, ever have been told not to report child abuse to the proper authorities, and yet you will note from social services records and other statements made that in at least one case, brave, worried neighbours did indeed report to the authorities. In due course after the trials all state authorities who have any connection to the outstanding allegations, must be fully and publicly investigated.
For the hard of thinking, no official investigation can or should take place until after all trials are completed.
To return to Ms Cahill, who is clearly a brave lady who uses her dreadful experience to help others. I ask all republicans who know of cases of child abuse, and feel unable to report to the police, to contact Ms Cahill.
Eileen Calder:
You are doing excellent work and I take my hat off to you.
I would also like to commend you for the sensisitve and caring way your are working with Ms Cahill.
I particularly like the way you give all transgressors both barrels. It is heartening to hear some people say that some things are wrong, no ifs or buts. What is your opinion on the (anonymous) letter in An Phoblacht attacking your centre?
One question though: you speak of perverts and the like. Can such a line be drawn between paedophiles, enablers and those who date rape or fill teenagers up with drink and screw them? The Provos had plenty of the latter too.
Also, is it better to temper your language when talking of SF/DUP paedophiles? Are their protectors not more culpable in the bigger picture (allowing us the dangerous poetic licence to move from the horribly individual cases to the equyally darker underbelly of Provodom)
slappymcgroundout
“God help us if policing and justice are devolved into the hands of SF.”
No, ma’am, God help you if your responsible authority continues to behave the way that it already has with respect to Aine and X.
on Jan 31, 2010 @ 01:31 PM
You raise some pertinent issues here as this contextualizes the debate in it’s wider setting of the interface of ‘ responsible authority’ with aspects of the Northern Ireland regime and the possible political interference of by latter of the former in these matters.
I need not waste space with details of these interferences, the state assassination of Solicitor Pat Finnucane and other prominent perceived ‘enemies of the state’ are clear proofs of this.
If the British Governments and its murkier elements of the British Secret Services were willing to use murder as an instrument of State policy in Northern Ireland, do anyone consider for a moment that they would not be prepared to blackmail and otherwise use abusers and victims if it suited their purposes.?
This is especially so if the abuser was a political activists or the abused had information of interest. Given the prominence of some of the ‘outed’ abusers and the extent of the abuse problem, it would be a very naive person indeed that would not accept this as a fact of life.
I had personal experience of this in the South in a situation of where a pedophile and child sex abuser was a Garda informer at a time when McGlinchy was running rings around the police forces North and South of the border. The informer was a member of the local IRSP and also had ready access to other republican and left wing circles in his area.
He was of Irish U.K. parents. When his ex wife investigated his background there it transpired that along with a lifetime of deviant activity, crime and imprisonment in the U.K. he also had a ‘grassing up’ reputation.
Once the abuse was uncovered the mother quickly found that the abuser had full State protection, in fact so entrenched was was this, that far from getting assistance from the gardai and Director Of Public Prosecution, she had to bring high court proceedings against the D.P.P. Gardai and various State services before she could get the information in State Records that she needed for High Court proceedings against the abuser.
The Child Sex Abuser ( there is a High Court Finding on this issue) had the services of a Senior Counsel and former Attorney General among his legal representation in the Superior Court proceedings.
On one particular mornings hearing, the presiding judge exploded and demanded an explanation from the State side; the abuser had the former A.G. Senior Council, a Barrister, two barrister devils and a Solicitor. Eight other assorted individuals ( some in wigs and gowns ) were also on his benches, with a ‘watching brief’ protecting State interest and all paid for by the state.
On the other benches facing the Judge was the mother, a lay litigant with a pile of law books without even the benefit of a Mackenzie friend! A brief adjournment was called. When the court resumed the eight extras had disappeared….. but just to a room down the corridor where their services remained available to the abusers legal side for the whole hearing!
The abuser when finally, legally cornered by the victims mother, fled to the U.K where another series of protracted cases ensured. The Supreme Court at one stage made a court order with State Consent for transmission to the U.K. The Dep. Of Justice were instructed by The Supreme Court to transmit the order with immediate effect via The Dep. of Foreign affairs to the English High Courts.
The Dep of Justice did this but with a cover secret covering letter informing the English Court A.G. that the Irish Supreme Court did not have the authority to make the order that it.! This despite the fact that the State side had agreed to the making of the order in the Supreme Court hours before, after days of intense court activity and debate.
Despite a Twenty-Six county constitution, a so called democracy etc. The Dep. of Justice and the Dep. of Foreign Affairs subverted their own Supreme Court in a foreign jurisdiction and facilitated the activities of a pedophile and child sexual abuser to escape trial in the Irish State. Despite a High Bench warrant for his arrest he breezed in and out of the State will and still do!
All of this was done to protect his services as an informer.
In addition to the foregoing information Feb 01,2010 @ 01 :03 the following is also pertinent to this opening debate!
I had in fact discussed some details of this case with then Irish State Attorney General on three separate occasions. No action was taken other than I getting the usual special branch car up my tailpipe day and night for the weeks while the contact lasted.
When the A.G. was appointed President Of the High Court, I went to the Sunday Tribune who investigated and prepared
a double spread. His position became untenable, he resigned but a considerable reduced article was still published and may be looked up.
I have outlined these details as when we get in to these child sexual abuse areas, let no one with concerns in this field be under any illusions or in any doubt as to the lengths both States North and South will go to to protect and cover up its agents facilitating or ignoring child sexual abuse where state interests are concerned.
One final observation on this whole sordid area, some years back in the U.K at an openly advertised weekend seminar I heard a one hour talk by a leading surgeon and author on pedophile activity and the use of schoolboys for sexual gratification purposes in sub rosa activity. He covered most of the 20th, cent, naming Royals, Government Ministers, Senior Civil Servants and other Establishment figures, even some current where details were a matter of public record.
Most of the audience were English, aware and informed yet when he concluded his talk there was no initial applause, just a shocked silence followed by questions, indignation and outrage. The same man had served as a Doctor attached to the Military in Northern Ireland in the early 70′s.
My off the record conversations with that surgeon over that weekend left me very disturbed and pessimistic indeed with regard to any prospects of remedy, relief or redress for victims where state forces are involved.
Any one that thinks things are that much different in the South, then look up the Fr.Brendan Smith case and all that surrounds it, including the positions held by some who had to resign. Also look up a late eighties exposure of pedophile activity and child prostitution in Cork city and surrounds by the Cork Examiner done in detail double page spreads over three days.
I was instrumental in helping bring about that in depth investigation, again a month of special branch harassment and prosecutions under the Road Traffic Act! I have been involved in helping abuse victims for the past twenty five years and I know all too well what they are up against North and South of the border!
Once again good work by Suzanne Breen, by Ms.Cahill and others in exposing the problem. Republicans made sure that our political prisoners got out, otherwise no peace process. It is now time we put the same energies into facilitating the release of sexual abuse victims from their own individual prisons and private torments.
The inherent moral imperatives demands this and the victims deserve no less. Contemporary times and history will judge us on this!
As a Republician myself i have to say i’m in total support of both Aine & Ms Cahill however unlike Munsterview i would most certainly not be congratulating Suzanne Breen….
and this is just my opinion i think she is unsinsere, devious, and interested in making a name for herself and her paper…
Feb 01, 2010 @ 02:20 AM
Nollaig; the message that counts not the messenger, as far as Journalism is concerned. I cannot recall having ever met Suzanne Breen, I know little of her, I can only go by the quality of her work. Of course she is interested in promoting her paper, that is the reality of all papers, well those still publishing that is!
As to your remarks about her saying that she is……… ” un sincere, devious and interested in making a name for herself…. ” I am reminded of the well known Kit Kat ad where a pop promoter tell tells would be rock stars…… “You cant sing, you cant play, you look awful……you will go far”
If the traits you ascribe to Suzanne are true then she too will go far in Journalism and if she fancies a change of career she can always have a bright future in politics!
Munsterview: As a self styled Republican, why do you use terms like UK? Republicans would not use that term. Have you an agenda?
“Republicans would not use that term. ”
Why not? I never understood the superstition that things like the Republic of Ireland of Northern Ireland will disappear if you call them something else.
Feb 01, 2010, @ 07:13 AM
Paddy………. pathetic! Do hold a passport ? who was it issued by?
As Billy Connoly may have put it, you must have been up all night thinking that one up !.
I do not think Paddy that the first thing on the minds of suffering former child sex abuse victims thinking of coming forward will be ” just a wee moment here, should I say that this happened in The Six Counties, Northern Ireland or British Occupied Ireland ?
This page and its contributors is dealing with real suffering real suffering by real people, could you give the victims the respect that they deserve by also getting real!
As to your question…. start another page and I will debate with you on that. And yes I do have an agenda, it is to see the ideals of the 1916 proclamation, the ideals of the first Dail and the philosophy of the fine protestant United Irish men and women such as Henry Joy, Betsy Gray, Russell and Ann Devlin become a reality in this island.
Paddy
I will save you the trouble on this one ….. yes Ann Devlin was Catholic!
http://www.argus.ie/news/adams-photo-was-a-mistake-x2013-td-2046323.html
Arthur Morgan enters the fray again with typical Adams speak. These are real “the dog ate my homework” excuses. Until Morgan, like Gerry, should take a polygraph on national TV, he is very suspect. What, for example, was his relationship with the paedophilia ring Liam Adams uncovered in Dundalk? Were there republican paramilitary connections? Is it fear of South Armagh retaliation that impedes his memory? Come on, Arthur, we want to know hom nay paedophiles are fighting for Irish freedom in Cox’s Demesne.