His bravery stands in contrast to the despicable actions of his abuser, the cowardice of republicans in failing to deal with the matter appropriately, and the ongoing campaign of abuse Paudie is suffering by Sinn Fein supporters online who are seeking to discredit his story. There needs to be a clear and unequivocal statement from the Sinn Fein leadership calling on their keyboard warriors to desist.
At the same time, Sinn Fein are trying to portray themselves as being on the side of victims by calling for a new all-island body to investigate sexual abuse. Yet, this is a clear smokescreen. It is an attempt to throw responsibility for the problem onto someone else's shoulders. According to Sinn Fein, it is up to the PSNI, An Garda Siochana, the North South Ministerial Council, or some other body to devise a mechanism or process for dealing with the issue. The onus is never on republicans.
Furthermore, Sinn Fein's solutions always start with putting the victim back in the dock, never with the IRA bringing forward its own information about the extent and scale of abuse within its own ranks.
We already know that the IRA and Sinn Fein conducted its own internal investigation into sexual abuse by republicans ten years ago. Despite Sinn Fein's denials, that investigation has been reported on extensively in the national media. Two years ago details were published of an internal inquiry into allegations of abuse by more than 100 members of the IRA and Sinn Fein.
The responsibility is on Gerry Adams and the Sinn Fein leadership to clarify these allegations. Mairia Cahill has repeatedly claimed that such an investigation took place and that Sinn Fein is in possession of information about multiple cases. In normal circumstances, it would be incumbent on any other political party to bring such information to the appropriate authorities.
Yet Sinn Fein's response is simply to deny, shift the blame elsewhere, and call on others to take responsibility for addressing the needs of victims.
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