Sinn Féin conducted a secret 2006 investigation into "40 different cases of sexual and physical abuse" by the Provisional IRA, and sent a memo to party media handlers "should the report ever be leaked," it has been claimed.

IRA abuse victim Paudie McGahon has described former Sinn Féin TD Arthur Morgan’s 2009 letter advising him to go to the gardaí with his complaint as “a red herring” and “a diversion”.

The IRA man who raped Paudie McGahon comes from a top Belfast Republican family which has connections with Sinn Féin, according to fellow abuse victim Mairia Cahill.

The interim Garda commissioner said the force is investigating claims that the IRA moved alleged sex abusers across the border into the Republic.