Now a woman in her 30s – Mairia Cahill claims she was just a teenager in 1997 when she was raped by a leading Republican.
Her story of abuse has been told to the Taoiseach and First Minister of Northern Ireland because at its core is a damning claim against one of the country's biggest political parties.
Maíria says Sinn Féin knew about her rape and covered it up.
She says the IRA held its own inquiry into the case which brought her face to face with her alleged attacker.
Sinn Féin's leader Gerry Adams flatly denies all claims against him as do four other Republicans who issued a statement last night to defend their reputations.
They say they were acquitted in court of any wrongdoing and in 'any normal society' that 'would be the end of the matter'.
But with politicians waiting for a date to discuss the case in Leinster House there is clearly no end in sight.
