Updated: 7.03 pm
THE FOUR INDIVIDUALS accused by Mairia Cahill of holding a “kangaroo court” in response to allegations she was raped by a senior IRA member, will not be meeting Enda Kenny.
That’s according to a strongly-worded letter sent today to the Taoiseach by their solicitor, and shared with the media.
I wrote to you on 24 October…to inform you that I had advised [my clients] against any meeting, given your highly prejudicial statements and ongoing legal processes.I note that you, or a spokesperson for your office, contacted the media on Wednesday with regard to a proposed meeting.Both the comments attributed to you and media reporting are again highly prejudicial and inaccurate.Given your approach to this matter, my clients have today confirmed that they see no point in meeting, at this stage, with you, given your rush to judgement and your setting aside of the court finding and legal processes.On my advice they are to declining to meet with you.
On 22 October, Kenny agreed to a request from Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams that he meet with Padraic Wilson, Seamus Finucane, Briege Wright and Maura McCrory, in light of his meeting with Cahill, earlier that day.
A government spokesperson last night reiterated that position, saying the Taoiseach would have “absolutely no problem” sitting down with the four accused.
“The Taoiseach is reasserting his offer to meet with the four people once he has facilitated with their details as to who they are so he can contact them,” the spokesperson added.
Later last night, however, Adams said the Taoiseach was being “cynical and disingenuous,” and that two of the four accused had already written to Kenny to set up a meeting.
In response to today’s solicitor’s letter, Adams said he’s “not surprised” the four weren’t meeting Kenny, “given [Kenny's] public assertions and judgements about them.”
In a statement this evening, the Louth TD claimed two Sinn Féin members who “sought to help” Cahill – Jennifer McCann MLA and Sue Ramsey – were still seeking a separate meeting with the Taoiseach.
A government spokesperson last night said Sinn Féin’s attempts to supposedly clarify who the people were that Adams was originally referring to in Dáil exchanges last weel “were attempts to muddy the waters”.
Later this evening, a government spokesperson told TheJournal.ie:
In the Dáil last week, Gerry Adams sought a meeting for four named persons.The Taoiseach acceded to that request. The offer remains.
Originally published: 5.44 pm
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