59 - A Miscarriage of Justice: Nora Wall

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.  Find us on Facebook or Twitter! With thanks to our supporters on Patreon! Donate today to get access to bonus and ad-free episodes! ******* Theme Music: Quinn’s Song: The Dance Begins Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Additional Music:   Allemande (Sting) by Wahneta Meixsell. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ ******* Sources: Brendan Farrelly and Aideen Sheehan, “Ex-nun helped man in brutal sex attack on girl” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/exnun-helped-man-in-brutal-sex-attack-on-girl-26146877.html (11 June 1999)    Aideen Sheehan, “Tears of relief as jury finds victim was no liar” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/tears-of-relief-as-jury-finds-victim-was-no-liar-26146883.html (11 June 1999)    Aideen Sheehan and Jerome Reilly, “The Sister of No Mercy” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/the-sister-of-no-mercy-26146982.html (12 June 1999)    Sean O'Driscoll, “Silence in court as ex-nun is convicted” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/silence-in-court-as-exnun-is-convicted-26259703.html (13 June 1999)    Geraldine Collins, “Rapist nun was sacked from job by Order” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/rapist-nun-was-sacked-from-job-by-order-26146991.html (12 June 1999)    “Sr Dominic's victim speaks out” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/sr-dominics-victim-speaks-out-26259699.html (13 June 1999)    “Rape victim says she intends to sue nuns and the State” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/rape-victim-says-she-intends-to-sue-nuns-and-the-state-26147097.html (14 June 1999)    Rita O'Reilly, “Ex-nun gets life for rape” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/exnun-gets-life-for-rape-26145053.html (24 July 1999)    Aideen Sheehan, “Life for the nun who raped a child” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/life-for-the-nun-who-raped-a-child-26145049.html (24 July 1999)    Aideen Sheehan, “Rapist nun will ask courts to free her today” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/rapist-nun-will-ask-courts-to-free-her-today-26145406.html (27 July 1999)    Senan Moloney, “Judges quash former nun's rape conviction” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/judges-quash-former-nuns-rape-conviction-26145504.html (28 July 1999)    Kevin Moore, “Ex-nun caught on a legal see-saw” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/exnun-caught-on-a-legal-seesaw-26260363.html (1 August 1999)    “DPP may order retrial for freed rape case nun” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/dpp-may-order-retrial-for-freed-rape-case-nun-26130670.html (2 November 1999)    Liz Allen "Retrial rules out for former nun in rape case debacle” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/retrial-ruled-out-for-former-nun-in-rape-case-debacle-26261712.html (14 November 1999)    Brian Dowling, “Errors that led to great legal debacle” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/errors-that-led-to-great-legal-debacle-26132401.html (18 November 1999)  Brian Dowling, “DPP will not seek rape case re-trial” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/dpp-will-not-seek-rape-case-retrial-26132437.html (18 November 1999)    Kevin Moore, “Nora Wall desperate for a fresh start after her sentence of sham” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/nora-wall-desperate-for-a-fresh-start-after-her-sentence-of-shame-26261822.html (21 November 1999)    John Maddock and Aideen Sheehan, “Botched rape case nun us innocent, says DD” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/botched-rape-case-nun-is-innocent-says-dpp-26132894.html (23 November 1999)    Michael Sheridan, “'Pablo' may now find peace in anonymity” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/pablo-may-now-find-peace-in-anonymity-26228319.html (19 January 2003)    “DPP won't resist nun's challenge” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/dpp-wont-resist-nuns-challenge-26015090.html (4 February 2004)    John Maddock, “Declaration sought over rape case” in The Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/declaration-sought-over-rape-case-25976701.html (22 July 2005)    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 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)    For a full list of sources, please see mensreapod.com

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Mens Rea is the legal principle of intent that must be proved in a number of crimes, such as murder. It means literally, "guilty mind". Mens Rea Podcast explores the most notorious crimes from Ireland and the UK and the court cases that followed. Join your host, Sinead, every fortnight when a new case is discussed.