'Transparency goes both ways' - Serious concerns mounting as Dáil becomes embroiled in child sex abuse controversy

Government officials are reeling from heated exchanges which took place yesterday evening in the Dáil following Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald's handling of their former press officers.

In a fiery address to Chief Whip Hildegarde Naughton and fellow members of the Dáil, the opposition leader said: "If the government want to schedule statements on the important issues of child protection and safeguarding that's in their gift."

"I want to be clear that for our part, these unauthorised references that you have referred to were unacceptable, they were reprehensible, action has been taken, the two individuals concerned have lost their jobs, they're now no longer members of Sinn Féin and that's as it should be."

There was tension and disgruntled murmurs echoed through the Dáil as the Sinn Féin Leader continued: "Let me make this point Ceann Comhairle, in the course of our statements, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the parties of government will have to also make clear what sanctions they have adopted in cases where very senior members of your parties have written character references for convicted rapists and child abusers."

The Sinn Féin Leader said she would be "interested" to hear what action was taken by parties when such character references, she claims, were given.

She concluded: "I'm sure that you will avail of that opportunity more broadly and in response to the order of business so we'll wait and see what the government will do on that because transparency goes both ways, ladies and gentlemen."

In 2006, the now Ceann Comhairle Seán O'Fearghail wrote a reference for a convicted sex offender in his constituency. Joseph Dempsey was jailed for six years for the rape and fifteen counts of indecent and sexual assault against his nephew.

In February 2020 having just been re-elected Ceann Comhairle, this reference re-surfaced to which Mr. O'Fearghail issued a statement in response to online queries saying: “I wish to state categorically that I did not then, nor do I now, condone rapists and inferences to the contrary are unspeakable and untrue.

“I cannot begin to imagine the devastation, destruction and horror experienced by those who are abused by the wrongdoing of paedophiles. The actions I took were not done to seek a lesser sentence for a convicted paedophile but to provide a reference as requested."