Wigmore October 1987 - false prosecution charge and rape

Why Marie McMahon was Falsely charged for prostitution
THE prosecution of femminist Marie MacMahon for prostitution represents a new' and insidious manifestaation of Garda victimisation of political dissidents. The charge of prostitution was brought against Ms MacMahon, the Gardai successfully applied for a week's remand and then blythly dropped the charge after it had got widespread media coverage.

Two guards, members of the Vice Squad, stated in court that Ms Mac Mahon was arrested after they had seen her walking along the street with Ms Anne Kelly, known to them as a convicted prostiitute- is guilty by association now ordained?

That Anne Kelly needed protection and her protectress was arrested is the paradox of the whole affair. The guards admitted in court that police protection had been afforded Ms Kelly on foot of a circuit court order, after her former pimp, John Grey, had made threats on her life. They denied knowing that Ms Mac Mahon had once lived in the same house of flats where Ms Kelly resided or that MacMahon had been asked to look after Ms Kelly's three children.

They admitted that Mr Grey had succeeded anyway in kiddnapping Ms Kelly and forcibly I abducting her and her I children to England, whence she escaped alone back to Dublin. The guards did not know that on the night of Ms Mac Mahon's arrest an English registered car had passed by her and Ms Kelly, (causing fear to the latter, and prompting Ms Mac Mahon to stay in her company.)

Other unrelated matters were not mentioned in court. A year ago John Grey alleged in an Irish Sunday paper that members of the garda vice squad were in his pay and in his pimp's pocket. On the Pat Kenny radio show, two months previous to the trial, Ms Kelly named a guard whom she said batoned prosstitutes after she had been taken into custody. She then withdrew the allegation. Ms Mac Mahon had assisted in the researching of the programme and had been instrumental in having Ms Kelly on it.

Nell McCafferty

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The Rape ofa Dublin Girl

IN the early morning of Sunday 27th of August last, two girls, both in their early teens, left a Dublin city centre disco.

As they walked along Cathal Bruagha Street, a group of four youths held and assaulted them. One of the girls managed to break free and appealed for help to passersby, but without response. The other girl was dragged off in the direction of Sean McDermot Street.

This girl aged sixteen, was carried to a garden at the rear of one of the houses and there was beaten, and raped by the four youths.

At this stage four other youths arrived where upon the girl was taken to a deserted flat nearby. To gain entrance to the flat the girl was ordered to climb several walls. When they reached the flat the girl was ordered to climb several walls. When they reached the flat she was raped in turn by the new arrivals. A further beating then ensued.

The girl was then abandonned in the flat where the Gardai found her shortly afterwards.

She was taken to Jervis Street where she later underrwent a mascectomy (removal of a breast) and then a hysterectomy (removal of the womb). Today, minus a womb and one breast, she is now in a Dublin Mental Hospital.

Eight boys have since been charged at Store Street Garda Station in connection with the offence. They have been remanded on bail until October 15th next.

Last year 60 cases of rape were reported to the guards and charges were brought against the offenders in 45 instances.

The Rape Crisis Centre in London, in their recent report claim that 58% of women raped are the victims of a planned premeditated assault. They also found that a large percentage of the women raped were known to their attackers and the assaults usually occurred in places familiar to one or both parties, and not the dark alleys or deserted fields one usually associated with such attacks. This can make it diffficult for the woman involved when reporting the matter to the guards as it implies the rapist was encouraged in some way by the women innvolved.

The Rape Crisis Centre discounts the myth that women invite rape by provoccative dress, etc., when it was found that women of all ages from 5 to 90 (or from young children to older women) were victims.

The report implies that most offenders charged with rape do not assault women for sexual gratifaction but' simply from a violent motive or a 'need' to degrade or humilate her.

A Rape Crisis Centre will open shortly in Dublin. It will work in close lias on with the Ban Gardai. A spokesswoman from the group said they are anxious to contact anyone who feels the centre may be able to help them in any way.

Christine Falls