Gerry Adams has said the Taoiseach’s remarks on the Maíria Cahill case are “mischievous and clearly politically motivated.”

The Sinn Féin president was responding to Enda Kenny’s claims that Sinn Féin’s conduct in relation to its treatment of abuse victim Maíria Cahill was “utterly despicable.” The Taoiseach also claimed Sinn Féin had attempted to “discredit” Cahill, with a blog post published by Gerry Adams over the weekend.

“I think there has been despicable, utterly despicable, conduct by Sinn Féin to discredit Maíria Cahill over the last period.

“Is this another part of an attempt to discredit a young woman who’s telling a story from the inside and my understanding is that there is more to follow,” said Mr Kenny earlier today.

Adams said this evening: "In comments today, the Taoiseach suggested that my recent blog was 'part of an attempt to discredit' Maria Cahill.

"The Taoiseach is entirely wrong and his remarks are mischievous and clearly politically motivated.

"The blog was a sincere effort to deal directly with the issue of how allegations of abuse had been handled in the past by republicans. The Taoiseach should not try to score cheap political points about these sensitive and serious issues," Adams said.

Speaking to reporters in Mayo, Mr Kenny also hinted that there would be more allegations of covering up of abuse emerging in the next few days. “My understanding is that there are more to follow,” the Taoiseach said.

Responding this evening to that remark specifically, Gerry Adams said:

"The Taoiseach also said in relation to people who have suffered abuse in the past that he understood more ‘there are more to follow’.

"Abuse of any kind is totally wrong. If anyone, including the Taoiseach has any information whatsoever about any child abuse, they should give that to the appropriate authorities North or South and they will have the full support of Sinn Féin in doing this."