A FORMER SINN Féin councillor and widow of a leading IRA figure is to face multiple charges of child abuse, including the alleged sexual abuse of her step-daughter, over incidents that are said to have occurred three decades ago.

Briege Meehan is the widow of Martin Meehan, a senior IRA leader in Belfast. Her step-daughter claims that she abused her between 1979 and 1980, The Irish News reports.

Meehan will face 15 charges including child cruelty, neglect and false imprisonment as well as several counts of sexual abuse against her step-daughter Mary Meehan.

Mary Meehan, who is now in her 40s, waived her right to anonymity.

If 65-year-old Briege Meehan is found guilty of the charges, she will face a lengthy prison sentence and will be placed on the sex offenders register.

Briege Meehan’s solicitors said that she would be “strenuously defending” the allegations.

Her solicitor Patricia Coyle added:

She remains entitled to the presumption of innocence and welcomes the trial process in order to demonstrate her innocence.