Maíria case not the only one

Fear of going to the police with complaints about sexual abuse or violence still exits in the North, according to a leading women’s rights advocate who said the case of Maíria Cahill is not an isolated one.

Marie Brown of Foyle Women’s Aid said she believed more cases would emerge of abuse being covered up by paramilitary groups, because “even if you put a lid on it, it always comes out in the end”.

She revealed that her organisation — established in the 1970s — came under pressure to remove the phone number of police from Women’s Aid leaflets.

“I was visited once and told that they would allow women to come forward to use it but that I had to make assurances that no woman would go to the police,” she told RTÉ Radio.

“I refused and said I would assist women in whatever process they wanted to go through and I more or less told that person to get out of my office, that I wouldn’t be intimidated.”

Ms Brown appeared on the BBC Spotlight programme which revealed the story of Ms Cahill’s rape by a member of the IRA and alleged “kangaroo court” inquiry which forced her to confront her abuser.

“There was a lot of fear about going to the police and a lot of fear about somebody in the community knowing you were going to the police,” said Ms Brown. “The fear is still there and the distrust is still there.”

She said it “wasn’t just one paramilitary group either” and she believes that in some cases, concerns about reporting abuse to RUC officers because they might use the information for other purposes were valid.

“Women in the North were used as political footballs when it suited everybody,” she said.

“It was a horrendous time in those communities and my concern is to ensure that it doesn’t continue to happen today, and that there is a recognition that they have to stand back off those issues and let those who know what they are doing and skilled people support these victims.”

Meanwhile, both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael repeated their calls for Gerry Adams to reveal any information he may have on the movement of abusers across the border.

Responding to similar calls made by the Taoiseach, Mr Adams told a rally in Belfast at the weekend that he had “no knowledge of the claims the Taoiseach was making”.

Junior minister Simon Harris called for further explanation from Mr Adams on references he made on his blog last weekend to abusers being expelled across the border. The Sinn Féin leader wrote on his blog: “The IRA on occasion shot alleged sex offenders or expelled them”.

South Dublin Sinn Féin councillor Eoin Ó Broin said if Mr Adams has information, he should reveal it to the relevant authorities.