Outrage at blog claiming Mairia Cahill's alleged rape ordeal was 'year-long sexual liaison'

Seamus Finucane, a leading member of the IRA at the time of the forced inquiry into Ms Cahill’s ordeal, was allegedly one of the men who forced her into a confrontation with her alleged rapist.

Yesterday, he shared a blog on his Facebook page which described the alleged rapist as a man “whom many a 16-year-old would likely fancy”.

He posted the link to a blog by a writer who calls himself “Ruaidri Ua Conchobai” and who pens a regular blog on Northern Irish affairs under the title “Belfast Child”.

In his latest scandalous article, the author wonders whether what happened between Ms Cahill and her alleged abuser was in fact a “year-long clandestine sexual relations between these two people ignited by a lawful but ‘a few cans of beer’ induced seduction by a silver-tongued, musically talented, IRA-powerful type of charmer whom many a 16 year old would likely fancy... it's possible but I don't know, do you?”.

In the Dail this week, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams sparked outrage after appearing to describe leading IRA figures who subjected Ms Cahill to a kangaroo court-style probe as "decent".

"These are not nameless, anonymous people; these are decent people," he announced to the deathly-silent chamber.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has been challenged to reveal if sex offenders expelled from the North by the IRA were subsequently moved to the Republic.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny demanded yesterday in the Dail that Mr Adams confirm whether abusers who committed crimes in the North were placed in safe houses in Donegal, Louth and Dublin.

Mr Kenny said Mr Adams needs to come clean on whether "expelled" republican sex abusers are still living in the Republic.

"Are those people still here? Is this true? Do you know of any activities they are involved in now?," he asked during a heated exchange between the party leaders yesterday.