Michael Kelly
Sinn Féin Vice President Mary Lou McDonald is remaining tight-lipped amid controversy over Gerry Adams’ refusal to report his child abusing brother to the authorities.
This is despite her vocal stance against Church leaders accused of covering up abuse.
In 2009, Ms McDonald said any bishops “found to be complicit in the cover up of child abuse must be arrested and made to face the full rigours of the law”.
Convicted
Liam Adams was convicted earlier this month for the rape and sexual abuse of his daughter Áine from when she was aged four until she was nine.
Gerry Adams was first made aware of the abuse
in 1987. However, he waited over 20 years before making a statement to police in 2009.
Gerry Adams has stated that he rejects ‘unconditionally’ claims he committed an offence in relation to how he dealt with his brother’s sexual abuse of his daughter.
Liam Adams went on to do youth work in west Belfast years after Gerry Adams failure to alert the police to his brother’s abuse.
Commenting on the 2009 Murphy Report into abuse in the Archdiocese of Dublin, Ms McDonald said: “Anyone, including Gardaí, found to be complicit in the cover up of child abuse must be arrested and made to face the full rigours of the law”.
