Relative of a Sinn Féin TD is accused of raping teenage boy

 • 3h ago

A male relative of a Sinn Féin TD has been accused of raping a teenage boy a week after he was released from garda custody following a major cocaine bust at his home in the Leinster area.

The Sunday Independent can reveal that the middle-aged man — arrested over the cocaine seizure in recent weeks — is now the subject of a rape investigation involving the teenager.

The young man has made a recent lengthy complaint to gardaí at a Leinster garda station stating he was “spiked with drugs” by the suspect, before he was sexually attacked.

It is understood that the statement of complaint is being treated as “credible” and it is believed the alleged victim has received the necessary medical treatment and tests in the aftermath of the reported crime.

The man accused of rape has not yet been arrested or questioned, as the alleged rape happened in recent days. It is normal practice in sexual assault investigations for all the evidence — including medical reports, witness statements and potential CCTV — to be gathered before the suspect is questioned.

The last person in all such investigations to be quizzed is always the suspect, as “it is vital” that all the necessary evidence can then be “put to them” under questioning, explained a source.

However, a security source confirmed that early indications are that the rape complaint in this instance is considered “credible,” though further details could not be divulged due to the sensitive nature of the investigation.

A week before the rape allegation, the same man was arrested and questioned for over 24 hours over a significant cocaine seizure.

This specialist garda drugs operation took place at the suspect’s Leinster home and is on the higher end of the scale, in terms of the sale and supply of the class-A drug.

It is understood that as well as the “sizeable” amount of cocaine found at his home, there was also “cocaine worth tens of thousands of euro” found in his car.

After questioning, the suspect was then released without charge, while gardaí prepare a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The man is a close relative of a Sinn Fein TD.

There is no suggestion that this prominent politician is aware that his relative is involved in the alleged wholesale supply of cocaine, or any alleged sexual offences.