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Rough Beast
- My Story and the Reality of Sinn Féin
- Narrated by: Máiría Cahill
- Length: 12 hrs and 40 mins
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Summary
Number One Bestseller
Rough Beast is Máiría Cahill's harrowing story of her life and of what she went through at the hands of what is now Ireland’s largest and richest party. That story is told here for the first time in full detail and with unsparing honesty. It is a story of unimaginable trauma and political corruption. It brings to life a world of paramilitary secrecy and parallel laws, but above all it is the story of one young woman’s defiance of the power wielded by ex-gunmen inspiring fear and silence, and their influence over elected politicians.
Máiría Cahill grew up steeped in the traditions of Irish republicanism and the shadowy world of the IRA: her great-uncle Joe was one of the main founders of the Provisional IRA and her grandfather was Gerry Adams's mentor in the republican movement. From an early age she seemed destined for a glittering career within the increasingly successful political machine of Sinn Féin, which was then enjoying the aftermath of the Good Friday Agreement. She worked in a radio station alongside leading republicans; the Sinn Féin offices were her second home. She knew Gerry Adams and other senior republicans as family friends.
But at the age of 16, she was sexually abused by a prominent Belfast IRA man. When she confided in some friends she trusted about the abuse, one of them told the IRA without Máiría's knowledge. A year later the organisation came calling, and forced her to take part in an inept and grotesquely insensitive internal investigation. She was subjected to round after round of interrogations by senior IRA men and women, usually in a network of safe houses around Belfast. Doubt was cast on her account of what had been done to her. Her assailant was allowed to confront and denounce her. Eventually her rapist was permitted to vanish from Belfast while Sinn Féin and the IRA professed bafflement about his whereabouts.
Critic reviews
"Rough Beast is shocking, important and unputdownable." Roddy Doyle
What listeners say about Rough Beast
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- Alex
- 05-05-24
Outstanding and deeply disturbing
A brilliant, brave account by Mairia Cahill of how she was repeatedly raped by a senior figure in the IRA, then retraumatised when the IRA decided to investigate the case and figure out if she was telling the truth. This involved sitting her in a room with her abuser. It's a devastating picture of the corruption at the heart of the IRA and Sinn Fein, which still refuses to accept her account.
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- Brian Cunningham
- 02-03-24
Brilliant
Book of the year, no doubt about it. Brilliant from start to finish. Read the book then decided to get the audible version. Mairia narrating the book herself hits differently. A brave and courages woman.
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- darren
- 02-11-23
Courage.
It takes courage for someone from the Republican Community to speak the truth about those at the top of the ira, it takes even more courage when they've endured what Mairia has.
Unfortunately too many people today, especially the young in America, the UK and the Republic of Ireland idolise a party and organisation that insists only the British Government have guilt over events in Northern Ireland.
Victims of abuse, sectarianism and violence will never have justice whilst one party is allowed to dictate the rights and wrongs of a conflict that will take many decades to heal if ever.
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- stew
- 08-01-24
Strong woman
This book sums up the ignorance of politicians who only think of themselves Maria Cahill is with out doubt the strongest woman in Northern Ireland
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- Joe
- 12-10-23
A harrowing, honest and courageous story
The claustrophobia, fear, grief and anxiety are absolutely palpable in Mairias recount of unimaginable trauma
This layered and juxtaposed with immense courage, honesty, integrity and advocacy on her part. She is an inspiration, the epitome of the strength of the human spirit. Essential reading
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- miss b
- 09-11-23
I was gripped from the start.
Once I started it, I found it hard to put it down. truly inspiring
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- Nigel Kirkpatrick
- 01-10-23
Essential Reading
A well written and articulate account of a nightmarish situation. I would say that I enjoyed the book, if the details were not so harrowing and shocking. Máiría wades through oceans of detail with a matter of fact tone, which draws the reader into every aspect. Normally such volumes of material would be monotonous, however, Máiría is able to draw you into her story so well, that every detail is necessary and ingested with enthusiasm. The pain of taking this stand is well communicated and the determination to proceed is truly admirable. A no holds barred account, which doesn't miss and hit the wall. An extremely courageous and remarkable woman who singlehandedly took on the Republican establishment and held them to account. I pray that in the telling of her story, this is a cathartic moment for her. As is evident with all abuse victims, peace and healing is an ongoing daily effort.
go mbeannaí Dia thú
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- Amazon Customer
- 19-10-23
Peter
An excellent book, harrowing at times. Māiria is a brave woman.
If the Irish Republic are going to vote in Sinn Fein at the next election then the Irish people are going to need people like her to take them on.
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- MR A PATTERSON
- 14-02-24
Brave
A thoroughly well written book that, despite the horrific subject matter, is hard to ‘put down’. The honesty Cahill displays in discussing the impact her abuse had on her shows just how devastating it can be for those who have suffered it. Likewise, the response to it from many was clearly despicable, and it’s only right they should be called out.
Not many people would have had the courage to do what Cahill has done.
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- Raymond Sheehan
- 23-12-23
Sinn Féin’s worst nightmare - The TRUTH!
Mairia tells her truth like a grenade detonating with shrapnel hitting home on a number of scores. From being a frightened and nervous young woman raped by a an IRA thug, and the subsequent treatment of her by the IRA, that has transformed her into a warrior fighting against a corrupt unlawful regime, who tried to control her, and protect the abuser within its ranks. Boy did they make a mistake, one that still causes them to hide from her all these years later!!
An absolutely riveting story, one that puts the IRA and Sinn Féin in the spotlight and shows them to be the corrupt and manipulative group of liars and an institution whose leaders use fear and terror to get their way.
This is the story about a brave young woman who chose to confront them and their manipulation, from Jerry Adams, to Mary Lou, the chief manipulators of fear, who lie as easily as honest people tell the truth!
An absolute must read for everyone who believes that Sinn Fein is Ireland’s answer to Government!
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