Mairia Cahill to campaign for rape support services if elected to Seanad

Labour Seanad candidate Mairia Cahill has said she will campaign for rape victims and the need for support services if she wins an upcoming by-election in the Seanad.

The Belfast woman met Labour party TDs and senators in Leinster House yesterday after joining the party last weekend.

Her nomination for the upper house is to replace Jimmy Harte, the former Donegal party senator who recently stepped aside.

Tánaiste Joan Burton said: “We look forward to her becoming a very active senator, particularly on the issues relating to women, relating to violence, that she has spoken about with such passion and with such dedication.”

Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin both say they are considering putting forward candidates for the mid-November by-election, despite the Government parties having the numbers to win the seat in the upper house.

Sinn Féin said it was just “speculation” last night that the party would run former Fermanagh-South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew.

Ms Cahill, who claims the Provisional IRA covered up her rape by a leading Republican, has been a vocal critic of Sinn Féin since revealing her story last year.

The Seanad nominee said she would have no issue bumping into Sinn Féin figures in Leinster House.