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Singer O'Connor: Sinn Féin member sexually abused me

SINÉAD O'Connor has claimed she was sexually abused as a child by a member of Sinn Féin in the 1970s.

The 48-year-old Dublin singer made the claims while explaining her decision to join the party in an open letter to Máiría Cahill.

The west Belfast woman claimed she was abused as a teenager by an IRA member and subjected to an IRA investigation into her account.

She also alleged that Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams knew about the abuse claims, but the Louth TD has denied there was any cover up by the party.

Writing in the Sunday Independent O'Connor said "she had not changed her personality overnight" and the first thing she had done after joining was call for senior members associated with covering up alleged offences to stand down.

She continued: "May I also point out that I myself was repeatedly sexually molested as a child in the 1970s by a member of Sinn Féin.

"And I am certain I was not the only victim of that man, who is now dead."

She said her decision to join Sinn Féin was in the same vein as becoming a priest, which she said, did not deter her from challenging the Catholic Church on matters of clerical abuse.

"My joining Sinn Féin is the same statement," O'Connor wrote.

"The very fact it is considered appalling to join Sinn Féin is why the elders should step down and is also why new people should join.

"I assure you that as upset as you are with me for applying to join, so are many members (because of my criticism of the elders) and many other people from other communities.

"I think it is more practical to join and say the elders should leave than not to join."

Ms Cahill, who said she felt like she had "been kicked" at the news the singer had joined Sinn Féin, also spoke to the paper after speaking to O'Connor.

"It's been a tough few months and I imagined someone like Sinéad would stand up for those victims of abuse that SF, in my opinion, treated shamefully," she wrote in a column.

"I know now after speaking to her that she intends to do that, though I am still mystified at how she is going to reconcile the issue in her head as she strives to make a difference from within.

"Sinéad is not known for keeping her mouth shut. Sinn Féin are not known for their advocacy of free thinking. It's bound to end in tears. I hope she doesn't get hurt along the way.

"Sinéad has been hurt in life, and some of her experiences are similar to mine but she's intelligent and her opinions deserve to be heard as much as anyone's."

* DECISION: Sinead O'Connor

n MYSTIFIED: Máiría Cahill