New Stance Needed on Sex Abuse Within Ira

By Liam Fay
The Times
November 25, 2017

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/new-stance-needed-on-sex-abuse-within-ira-wftmv78b6

Contrary to what many evidently believe, there is no guarantee that the international scandal about sexual abuse and harassment will result in lasting social change. The outing of abusers is a big leap forward — but advances are often followed by reversals.

In the worst scenario, the predicted shift in attitudes will turn out to be nothing more than a blip. If you want an illustration of the speed and ease with which this can happen, look no further than Sinn Fein, a party that closed ranks when confronted with uncomfortable truths about its recent past.

Only three years ago, Sinn Fein was at the centre of a storm over allegations of a systematic cover-up of sex crimes within what’s known as the republican family.…