Member's statement: Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week: Máiría Cahill

Member's statement by Ms Cheryl Brownlee on 3 February 2026.

MLA

Ms Cheryl Brownlee

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

3 February 2026

Type

Member's statement

Business

Members' Statements

Heading

Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week: Máiría Cahill

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5362327

Read the official Assembly record

Text

During Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week, we reflect not only on the scale of harm caused by sexual violence but on how our system responds or, too often, fails to respond to those brave enough to come forward. One of the most powerful and stark reminders of why the awareness week matters is the story of Máiría Cahill, a woman who spoke out about sexual abuse that she experienced as a teenager at the hands of an IRA member. Máiría was just 16 years old when the abuse began, and, instead of receiving support and protection, she was subjected to a secretive internal investigation by the IRA and forced into confrontations with her alleged attacker. When Máiría eventually took the courageous step of reporting the abuse to the statutory authorities, what followed was a series of legal proceedings that collapsed, not because her claims were unfounded but because the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) failed to handle the cases in a way that gave her confidence to pursue them through the justice system. A subsequent independent review found multiple failings by the PPS in how her case and two others linked to it were managed. They included delays, poor communication and a lack of focus on the experience of the complainant. The review concluded that the victims were let down by the service. That conclusion was a stark rebuke of how a young woman's trust in the justice system was eroded, and it forced the PPS to reckon with the system and its obligations to victims. What the case laid bare and what Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week compels us to confront is that survivors of sexual violence must feel supported, not abandoned, by every layer of the institutions. A failure at any stage, whether through policing, prosecution or community support, risks silencing victims and denying them justice.

Máiría's determination to speak publicly, despite the intense personal and public backlash that she faced, sparked a wider discussion in our society. Her voice has helped to spur on scrutiny of how sexual violence cases are managed, including how prosecutors communicate with victims, handle delays and provide support to complainants to feel safe when participating in the justice system. Her story is not just about one individual. It has become a catalyst for change and for pushing for continual improvements in how the PPS engages with survivors, how we educate people on consent and respect and how we build a system that does not re-traumatise those who report abuse. We will continue to respect Máiría's courage and that of the many other survivors who share their experiences at significant personal cost. Sexual violence can happen to anyone. We will continue with our commitment to strengthen our legal and support systems so that victims are heard, believed and supported, every step of the way.

474 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:23 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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