Burton: Handling of republican sex abuse claims of great concern in US
Ms Burton said there were parallels in how the Church was forced to take responsibility for sex abuse scandals in Boston, and that Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams must now do the same.
In an interview with the Irish Examiner in Washington, she said US academics had privately raised the issue of IRA sex abuse allegations with her during her visit over the last week.
“I think Sinn Féin’s response to sexual abuse within the republican movement is a shame and disgrace to the memory of true republicans,” she said.
“It’s been mentioned to me once or twice. I’ve been in a couple of universities, I was in Boston college, I was in the University of Pittsburgh, and certainly individuals who carry out research into Ireland, I’ve had some private conversations.
“Sexual abuse is a very serious issue. In cities like Boston, it was a very harrowing and appalling scandal in relation to the Catholic Church, no more than there was in Ireland, and the Catholic Church had to face up to its responsibilities.”
Fresh sex abuse claims against republicans were recently revealed by the BBC. Paudie McGahon says he was raped by an IRA man in his Louth home when he was 17 and later quizzed about his abuse by a secret court. Mr Adams admits that, despite being aware of the rape, he never went to gardaí and that he knows the identity of the rapist.
Ms Burton added that Sinn Féin needed to call off “keyboard warriors” who were harassing victims.
“It’s an incredible form of cowardice and appalling lack of leadership not to address the fact that some of the followers of the republican movement are engaged in this keyboard abuse,” she said.
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