Time for Adams to gather facts - Claims against republicans

WHENEVER it suits Sinn Féin, the party draws a line in the sand, making a fine distinction between its role as the self- described biggest political party on this island and its attitude to and handling of historic but still live allegations involving crimes of rape and sexual abuse of young people by members of the republican movement.

Accusing opponents of politicising such grave allegations may backfire at the polls.

Not surprisingly, a wave of revulsion followed revelations by 40-year-old Paudie McGahon that when he was 17 he was raped at his family home in Co Louth by a senior IRA member. This follows equally serious claims last year by Maíria Cahill who revealed she was raped by a well-known republican and forced to confront her attacker in a kangaroo-style court. According to Ms Cahill, she has since been subjected to a republican campaign of bullying.