'I'm not a spook, I'm not a spy' - says Mary Lou McDonald as she denies Sinn Féin cover-up of Mairia Cahill sexual abuse

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has denied her party covered up the sexual abuse of Mairia Cahill by an alleged provisional IRA member, despite serious concerns over an internal inquiry conducted into what happened.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has denied her party covered up the sexual abuse of Máiría Cahill by an alleged provisional IRA member, despite serious concerns over an internal inquiry conducted into what happened.

Ms McDonald was forced to reject the claim after a Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland report last week found the police force failed Ms Cahill and that the then RUC was aware of a provisional IRA inquiry but did not investigate it.