With respect to Dolan O’Hagan (‘Political point scoring does a disservice to Máiria Cahill’, October 22) nobody doubts what Derry was like in the 1980s but most of the destruction of the city and its social order was wrought by the Provos.

MÁIRIA Cahill’s case is not primarily about sexual abuse. It is about abuse, and abuse is about power. 

Gerry Adams and Mary Lou McDonald both emphasised the fact that Máiria Cahill’s allegation of rape against a senior member of the Belfast IRA had been before the courts and the accused had been acquitted. It appears that Ms Cahill withdrew her evidence and the case collapsed.