In 1996, former nun with the Sisters of Mercy Nora Wall was accused of rape by a girl who had formerly been in her care at a group home in Cappoquin, Co Waterford. Alongside her, a homeless man, Paul “Pablo” McCabe, who had once been resident at the same institution was also implicated.
The two went to trial, but the affair would later be declared a miscarriage of justice.
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Sources:
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O’Brien, Breda. “Miscarriage of Justice: Paul McCabe and Nora Wall.” Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review 95, no. 380 (2006): 355-64. Accessed January 13, 2020. jstor.org/stable/30095917.
D.P.P.-v- Nora Wall, [2005] IE CCA 140 (2005)
“DPP report on events relating to Wall and McCabe prosecution” in The Irish Times (18 November 1999) p. 8.
John Horgan, “Sensationalism in court proceedings may be unfair” in The Irish Times (26 August 1999) p. 14.
Mary Carolan, “Former nun was wrongly convicted, court says” in The Irish Times (2 December 2005) p. 3.
Mary Carolan, “False witness: woman admits her graphic account ‘never happened’” in The Irish Times (2 December 2005) p. 3.
Carol Coulter, “Handling of vulnerable witnesses crucial” in The Irish Times (2 December 2005) p. 3.
Padraig O’Morain, “Former nun all-powerful in children’s home” in The Irish Times (11 June 1999) p. 5.
Padraig O’Morain, “Health board not told of sex abuse claims” in The Irish Times (12 June 1999) p.3.
Mark Brennock, “DPP prepared to break with precedent” in The Irish Times (18 November 1999) p. 18.
Tomas Mac Ruairi, “Former nun, man guilty of raping girl in home” in The Irish Times (11 June 1999) p. 5.
“Former nun, man have convictions for rape quashed” in The Irish Times (28 July 1999) p. 4.
“DPP is granted time to consider rape case retrial” in The Irish Times (2 November 1999) p. 4.
Mary Carolan, “DPP not to contest justice request by ex-nun” in The Irish Times (2 April 2004) p. 4.
“Wall, McCabe entitled to be presumed innocent” in The Irish Times (23 November 1999) p. 4.
John Byrne, “Nora Wall” in Magill https://magill.ie/archive/nora-wall (7 December 2005)
Mary Carolan, “Ex-nun Nora Wall settles damages case for miscarriage of justice” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/ex-nun-nora-wall-settles-damages-case-for-miscarriage-of-justice-1.2645707 (12 May 2016)
The Ryan Report – Chapter 8: Cappoquin http://www.childabusecommission.ie/rpt/pdfs/CICA-VOL2-08.PDF (May 2009)
Alison Healy, “Nun criticised in abuse report identified as Nora Wall” in The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/nun-criticised-in-abuse-report-identified-as-nora-wall-1.771250 (27 May 2009)