Dáil suspended three times in row between Sinn Féin and Joan Burton

The Dáil was suspended three times yesterday amid a row between Sinn Féin TDs, the Government and Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett which featured bitter exchanges. It followed claims by Sinn Féin that Tánaiste Joan Burton had linked the party to the late Dómhnaill Ó Lubhlaí, against whom allegations of sexual abuse of young boys have been made. Sinn Féin TDs rose to their feet demanding that Ms Burton withdraw the assertion.

Ms Burton had said that Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald and her party “would be very well aware of the fact Mr Dómhnaill Ó Lubhlaí was identified for a long period, very closely, as a very significant and important republican figure”.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (SF) said: “He was a lot closer to people in the Minister’s party than anything to do with our party.”

Mr Ó Lubhlaí, who was a prominent figure in the Irish language movement and founder of Coláiste na bhFiann, Ros Muc, Connemara, died in March 2013. Ms Burton said he had been characterised in media reports as “a paedophile rapist on a significant scale”.

Earlier, Ms McDonald said allegations against him had been the subject of an internal Garda review in April 2013. “Victims feel very let down by the Garda and the criminal justice system, although it should also be said that other agencies of the State, including the Department of Education, the HSE and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, similarly failed victims in their quest for justice.’

Ms McDonald said she was raising the case of one of his victims, Gearóid Ó Concubhair, at his request, adding that a Garda report on his abuse had been with Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald since July.

Ms Burton said all sexual abuse was reprehensible and that the House had recently discussed the Maíria Cahill case. She was not familiar with the detail of the Garda file, saying Ms McDonald should raise the matter with the relevant Ministers.

The row intensified when Sinn Féin TDs alleged Ms Burton was linking Mr Ó Lubhlaí with their party. Mr Ó Snodaigh refused to resume his seat as he demanded a Government retraction. Mr Barrett adjourned the House.

When it resumed, Mr Barrett said he had asked during the suspension the clerk of the Dáil to check the records and no allegation was made against Sinn Féin. “The remarks were made against the ‘republican movement’,” he added. “There are other parties in this House that have ‘republican party’ after their name.” When Mr Ó Snodaigh continued to insist the Tánaiste withdraw the remark, amid noisy scenes Mr Barrett adjourned the House for the second time.

On the resumption, Mr Ó Snodaigh got to his feet and said Ms Burton should withdraw her “defamatory remark’’.

Mr Barrett called Independent TD Catherine Murphy, who was scheduled to be the next speaker in Opposition leaders’ questions. Mr Ó Snodaigh said he did not wish to delay the work of the House but he wanted to be heard on the issue.

By then, the exchanges were barely audible as Mr Ó Snodaigh was heckled from the Government benches. After further exchanges, Mr Barrett adjourned the House for the third time. When it resumed, Mr Ó OSnodaigh said the Tánaiste’s remarks would be referred by the party to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. Mr Barrett then called Ms Murphy to ask her question of the Tanaiste.