SINN Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald will meet Máiría Cahill in Dublin today to discuss revelations that party members did not cooperate with a PSNI investigation into abuse claims.
A Police Ombudsman report published in September concluded that police had failed Ms Cahill and two other women who said they had been sexually abused by a senior member of the IRA when they were teenagers.
Reports at the weekend said a PSNI detective told the ombudsman’s inquiry that “none of the Sinn Féin members were going to cooperate with police”, while another police officer described an interview with one group of individuals as “difficult and confrontational”.
A letter from the ombudsman to Ms Cahill also shows that a solicitor for former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams told the PSNI that a statement was all that he was prepared to provide on the subject.
It emerged yesterday that Mrs McDonald was prepared to meet Ms Cahill. Previously the Sinn Féin leader described accusations by Ms Cahill that Sinn Féin members had refused to cooperate as “a falsehood” and “most unfair”.
A party spokesman said: “On the back of media commentary, Mary Lou sought a meeting with Máiría Cahill subject to agreed logistics, time etc.”
Ms Cahill, who is now an SDLP councillor in Lisburn, said Mrs McDonald had responded to her call for a meeting.
Ms Cahill says she has “no expectations” for the meeting.
“I’d been frustrated at comments she made last week, and called for her to stop treating me with contempt when I received an email this morning saying she would be happy to meet,” she said.
“I don’t have any expectations for the meeting other than what I have said from the start: people who are in charge of organisations should take responsibility when that organisation fails people, especially in cases regarding sexual abuse.
“The PPS apologised, the PSNI and George Hamilton apologised for the failings within the police, and if we are to have any movement on the issue, although I don’t expect it, she should take responsibility for her organisation, she’s the leader.
“For victims, especially in sex abuse, there has to be a better way to treat people.
“Two independent reports prove I’m telling the truth, so she can choose to back those people who essentially said I was lying when I went public, or take the weight of the reports and come at it from a logistical angle.
“I will never have confidence in Sinn Féin speaking credibly on sexual abuse, that day is gone, that went when they treated me they way they did.
“I know how they treat people, this is 21 years of my life, and this meeting is not going to solve the trauma and upheaval.
“I go into this with no expectations and then I can’t be let down.”
SINN Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has offered to meet Máiría Cahill in the aftermath of revelations that party members did not co-operate with PSNI investigation into abuse claims.
A Police Ombudsman report published in September concluded that police had failed Ms Cahill and two other women who said they had been sexually abused by a senior member of the IRA when they were teenagers.
Reports at the weekend said a PSNI detective told the Ombudsman's inquiry that "none of the Sinn Féin members were going to co-operate with police", while another police officer described an interview with one group of individuals as "difficult and confrontational".
A letter from the Ombudsman to Ms Cahill also shows that a solicitor for former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams told the PSNI that a statement was all that he was prepared to provide on the subject.
It emerged yesterday that Mrs McDonald was prepared to meet Ms Cahill.
Previously the Sinn Féin leader described accusations by Ms Cahill that Sinn Féin members had refused to co-operate as "a falsehood" and "most unfair".
A party spokesman said: "On the back of media commentary, Mary Lou sought a meeting with Máiría Cahill subject to agreed logistics, time etc."
The meeting is expected to take place within a matter of days.
Ms Cahill, who is now an SDLP councillor in Lisburn, said Mrs McDonald had responded to her call for a meeting and arrangements were now being made.
"At this stage, I have provided times for meetings subject to logistics and I now await a definitive time for the meeting to go ahead," she said.
"To date I have met with the director of the PPS (Public Prosecution Service) and the chief constable, who in the face of two independent reports, accepted the findings and apologised on behalf of their organisations," she said.
"I am still waiting for the leader of Sinn Féin to do the same."
Three PSNI officers were disciplined as a result of the Ombudsman's report, while a fourth who would have faced action had already retired.
At the time of the publication of the report, Ms McDonald apologised to Ms Cahill over the party's handling of the issue when she first reported rape.
