Prosecution Service orders review of Mairia Cahill case
Three criminal cases linked to the alleged rape of a Belfast woman who insists the republican movement covered up her claims are to be independently reviewed, the Public Prosecution Service has announced.
Mairia Cahill, 33, has alleged she was raped by a suspected IRA member when she was a teenager in 1997.
She has further claimed that the IRA conducted its own inquiry into her account, subjecting her to interrogation and forcing her to confront her alleged attacker.
The man she accused of rape was later acquitted of criminal charges in court after Ms Cahill withdrew her evidence.
Charges were dropped against those allegedly involved in the IRA's internal inquiry.
Ms Cahill's story was highlighted in a BBC Spotlight documentary last week.
The North'sdirector of public prosecutions Barra McGrory announced that he was establishing an independent review of the "prosecutorial systems and processes" in relation to the three interlinked cases involving sex abuse and terrorist related charges.
Mr McGrory said an independent legal expert would be appointed in due course to oversee the exercise.
"I have carefully considered the range of issues that have been raised following the recent edition of BBC NI's Spotlight programme A Woman Alone With The IRA," he said.
"While it would not be appropriate for the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) to enter into a media discussion about evidential aspects of these particular cases, I consider that an independent, external scrutiny of our processes and procedures is warranted.
"It is of concern to the PPS to maintain public confidence in our services and in the wider criminal justice system. We understand how difficult it can be for victims and witnesses to come forward, particularly in cases involving sexual abuse offences and we will do all in our power to ensure that they and the wider public can feel confident in the independent role of the PPS.
"The PPS takes all of its decisions independently, applying the Test for Prosecution without fear or favour. I consider that there are particular challenges in prosecuting complex and interlinked cases, as in this instance, involving serious sexual abuse and terrorist related charges and involving multiple complainants and multiple defendants.
"This independent review will consider all aspects of the prosecution of these cases and if there are lessons to be learned, we will do so, openly and transparently."
Ms Cahill is from a well-known republican family in west Belfast.
Her late great uncle, Joe Cahill, was a founding member of the Provisional IRA.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, who has denied any suggestion he was involved in a cover up of her case, has admitted that the IRA on occasion had shot alleged sex abusers, insisting that its members were "singularly ill-equipped to deal with these matters".
Mr Adams has said the IRA had now left the stage so there was "no corporate way of verifying" Ms Cahill's allegations about how the organisation handled her case.
Ms Cahill has accused Sinn Féin of treating her in a "despicable and reprehensible" manner and has called on Mr Adams to quit.
Sinn Féin Assembly member Raymond McCartney welcomed the announcement of the review.
"The Director of Public Prosecutions has said there will be an independent review of these cases and that is to be welcomed," he said.
"The review will be carried out by an independent legal expert and that is entirely appropriate as these are sensitive legal issues that need to be dealt with professionally.
"It will also examine whether any lessons can be learned from the way this has been handled to date.
"The needs of victims must always be paramount in dealing with cases of this nature.
"I look forward to the completion of this review."
Leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) party Jim Allister said he pressed the issue with Mr McGrory at a meeting last week.
“Having pressed Barra McGrory QC, at our meeting last Thursday and in conversations since, for an external review into how the PPS handled the three cases linked to Mairia Cahill, I welcome this morning’s major announcement by the DPP,” he said.
“It is important that the issues of public confidence in the PPS, which arise from the collapse of these three cases, are fully addressed. It is of critical importance that a thorough and independent review of all PPS actions in the handling of these complaints is now conducted.
“There must be full engagement with Ms Cahill during this review exercise. I have been assured by the Director that this will happen.
“I commend the DPP for acting expeditiously once the concerns, arising from the Spotlight programme, were laid out before him.”
