'Getting verdict and speaking out doesn't mean I'm now fixed'
CATHERINE FEGAN, Irish Independent, January 3rd, 2025
Paula Doyle wasn't sure she would make it to the end of July. Her rape case had been adjourned for the second time and she was losing hope of ever seeing her attacker brought to justice. She was at a low ebb. Dark thoughts loomed large.
"I was in a really bad place and I remember seeing Ciara Mangan on the television speaking outside court about her case,” she told the Irish Independent.
"My family wanted to mute it because they thought it would trigger me, but I said 'no, leave her on there, I want to hear her'. And I remember thinking, 'if I get there, if I get a guilty verdict, I'm doing that', because I couldn't get over how much she gave me when she did it.”
Ms Doyle got the guilty verdict she wanted. Last March, Aidan Kestell (55) was jailed for seven-and-a-half years for raping Ms Doyle, who was a friend of Kestell's wife. The shocking assault was perpetrated in a Dublin park almost five years ago.
Like Ms Mangan, Ms Doyle waived her right to anonymity, shared her story and shone an invaluable light on an area of Irish life that so often remains in the shadows.
"I think it's nearly like a domino effect,” she said. "We see the people who went before us and it gives us the courage to do the same. I think now that if I can be that Ciara, if I can be that one person that come next year someone says, 'I'm going to stand up on the steps and he or she is not going to stop me', then that's my job done.”
Last year many people who suffered sexual violence waived their right to anonymity to speak out, something that other sexual assault survivors say is not a decision that is made lightly.
In November, a Mayo man was jailed for four years for the rape of his nine-year-old cousin in a shed on his family farm 18 years ago. Noel Gallagher (33), of Dadreen, Louisburg, Co Mayo, had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the rape of Dylan Gallagher (27) in Louisburg on a date between October 1, 2006 and March 2007.
Dylan Gallagher waived his anonymity, allowing his cousin to be named.
"It was extremely difficult for me because there was family involved,” he said. "But I had a cousin who waived her right to anonymity and I got courage from her. I also probably wouldn't have got the healing I got out of it. That's the main reason why I'm glad I did it.”
Many survivors not only waive their legal right to remain anonymous so they can speak publicly, but also to name the perpetrators publicly.
"If he wasn't identified no one would know about it,” Dylan said.
"He would get out of prison and get on with life. Now it's out there. He ruined my life for so many years, so it was my turn.”
Chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Rachel Morrogh praised those survivors who speak out.
"I think that the recent high-profile cases have successfully challenged some of the fears survivors may be experiencing when deciding whether to waive their anonymity or not,” she said.
"These fears include having to relive the trauma of the rape or assault, fear of being judged, not being believed or taken seriously and also there may be ramifications in their family or local community.”
Ms Morrogh also points out that those who don't want to waive their right to anonymity are no less brave.
"For individuals who choose not to pursue legal action or those who initiate the process, but never get the vindication of a conviction, there can be an emptiness when justice is not served.
"Although it does seem like more people are speaking out about sexual violence, we always have to keep in mind that actually the number of people who make it to court at all is incredibly small within the wider number of people who have experienced violence of this kind.
"It's important to recognise that the legal route is difficult and it's not for everyone, so the statements that are given outside court connect with the silent majority of victims of sexual violence who will never have a day in court but who are encouraged and find strength when justice is served.”
Bláthnaid Raleigh's powerful words outside the Criminal Courts of Justice in July and in an interview with the Irish Independent came at the end of a five-year wait for her case to come to trial.
For her, the experience has been overwhelmingly positive. She has since worked with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, is helping businesses with consent training and advising barristers on how to cross-examine rape victims.
"It's been rewarding to give back,” she said. "I have been contacted by people from all over, who are also survivors, sharing their story. I think even if you were to never go down a legal route or whatever, there's so many options for people to get counselling or support.
"When you share it with somebody, it does make it easier. When you have that space or that that person or people that you can share your thoughts with, it makes it a lot less daunting, because those feelings, they can build up inside you.”
Speaking about some of the reaction she has received as a result of her decision to go public, she said that although very limited, there has been negativity online.
"It's a very small number of people, but I have had comments,” she said.
"Comments on TikTok like, 'Oh, she looks like she only loves it.' Then I had a few people who I would have known who said, 'You know, would you not have been better off leaving well enough alone? Why did you name him? Are you not bringing a lot of trouble on yourself?'
"I don't have any regrets about it. I suppose there are probably challenges in it that I didn't expect there would be.”
Making the decision to go public is not an automatic fix.
"I don't want people to think that I just got this verdict still and my life is back to normal again,” she said.
"I still struggle massively. I had a dream last week and when I woke up I was saying to myself, 'Why can't you just get over this? Why can't you just forget about it and move on?'
"I still have to process a lot of that stuff, so I don't want people to think that I got the verdict, spoke out and was fixed. This doesn't leave you. It's with you for ever.”
Ms Doyle agrees, saying: "People just assume that because he's gone away you are better. That's not what happens.
"I will be living with this for the rest of my life. The moment that I was raped everything changed. I'll never be that same person again. I still grieve for the old Paula and I would love to have her back, but she can never come back.”
If you have been affected by any issues in this story, you can call the Rape Crisis Centre on Freephone 1800 77 88 88
'Shameful' Northern Ireland Secretary slammed over decision to appeal Sean Brown public inquiry
GARRETT HARGAN, Belfast Telegraph, January 3rd, 2025
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has been criticised for appealing a High Court ruling ordering the Government to hold a public inquiry into the murder of GAA official Sean Brown.
Mr Brown, who was the chairman of Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAA club, was locking the gates to the Co Londonderry club's training ground when he was ambushed by loyalist paramilitaries in May 1997.He was abducted, beaten and shot six times in the head. His body was found next to a burning car.
No-one has ever been convicted of his murder.
Both the Brown family and SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone last night slammed a decision by the Secretary of State to appeal Mr Justice Michael Humphreys' ruling that a public inquiry should be held.
The judge issued his ruling following years of campaigning by Mr Brown's family, saying there is “a clear and unambiguous obligation” on the state to carry out an investigation into Mr Brown's death.
The Northern Ireland Office confirmed that an appeal of the ruling was lodged earlier this week.
In a statement, a family spokesman said: “This appeal was lodged on December 31, New Year's Eve, and there must be a suspicion that the timing was intended to bury bad news.
“Regrettably it would appear that the Secretary of State has decided that our mother will now enter her 88th year still denied the truth of how, why and by whom her husband was abducted, beaten and murdered. This is shameful.
“When the coroner abandoned the inquest early last year he recommended a public inquiry as the only legal alternative.
“The SoS has consulted with the Ministry of Defence and the Security Service MI5 before deciding to deny our family our Article 2 ECHR right to an inquiry.
“This raises profound and deeply concerning questions about collusion and the role of state agencies in this case.
“Why does the Ministry of Defence and the Security Service in London hold documentation about the murder of a totally innocent family man who was simply locking the gates of his beloved GAA club in rural Co Derry?
“What was the relationship between these bodies and the LVF leadership? What was known in advance of the murder? Why are these bodies, who have actively thwarted investigations to date, being consulted on the merits of a public inquiry?
“It is a total mystery to us why 'national security' has been invoked to justify the redaction of vital evidence.
“As a family, we wish to put the Secretary of State on notice that we will not give up in our struggle to get to the truth.”
An NIO spokesperson said in a statement: “We have enormous sympathy for Mrs Brown and her family who have suffered so much since Sean Brown's murder.
“The recent judgment by the High Court however raises a number of important issues, including matters of constitutional significance that go beyond this individual case.
“The Government has therefore lodged a notice of appeal to the Court of Appeal and we are seeking expedition.”
Mid Ulster MLA Mr McGlone said: “This decision from the Secretary of State flies in the face of what was a very clear ruling from Justice Humphreys that a public inquiry should be held into the murder of Sean Brown.
“Instead of acting in good faith and granting the family the inquiry they have fought so long and hard for, they issued this decision on New Year's Eve, adding further insult to injury for the Brown family.
“All this family want is to find out what happened to their loved one and that should not be too much to ask.
“The family now face the intolerable position of months more of legal wrangling, more delay and heartache after what has been a long and emotional journey for them. I hope they can take heart from the huge support they have in the local community and right across this island. We are all behind them.
“It's shameful that the family of Sean Brown face entering the new year still fighting for truth and justice for their beloved husband and father.”
UK government lodges appeal against public inquiry order into murder of GAA official
By John Breslin, Irish News, January 3rd, 2025,
The family of a GAA man murdered by loyalist paramilitaries has expressed “deep regret and disappointment ” at the decision by the UK government to appeal a High Court order for a public inquiry into the killing.
Members of Sean Brown’s family are also questioning the time of the lodging of the appeal by the Northern Ireland Office, which happened on New Year’s Eve.
In 1997, the 61-year-old Mr Brown was abducted in Bellaghy in Co Derry as he was locking the gates of his Wolfe Tones club and taken to Randalstown in Antrim, where he was shot dead, believed by the LVF.
Following a judicial review challenge by Mr Brown’s now 87-year-old widow Bridie, the High Court ruled a public inquiry must be carried out as there was no other way to protect her right to a proper investigation into his death.
Father of John George confronts man he believes killed his son
The NIO said the High Court ruling raises “matters of constitutional significance” while also linking this to a Court of Appeals finding [that] the UK government has too much veto power around the disclosure of information in connection with those killed during the most recent conflict.
These legal battles centre on the Legacy Act, which established the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), the body set up to replace all inquests and civil cases relating to the Troubles.
In a statement released through the Pat Finucane Centre, the family expressed “deep regret and disappointment” at the Secretary of State Hilary Benn’s decision to lodge the appeal.
“This appeal was lodged on December 31st, New Years Eve, and there must be a suspicion that the timing was intended to ‘bury bad news,” a spokesperson for the family said, adding that the previous decision not to grant an inquiry “was communicated to us by the NIO at 17.45 on a Friday”.
“Regrettably it would appear that the secretary of state has decided that our mother will now enter her 88th year still denied the truth of how, why and by whom her husband was abducted, beaten and murdered. This is shameful,” the family added.
It was also noted by the family a coroner “abandoned the inquest” and recommended a public inquiry as the only legal alternative.
In a statement, the NIO said that it has “enormous sympathy for Mrs Brown and her family who have suffered so much since Sean Brown’s murder”.
“The recent judgement by the High Court however raises a number of important issues, including matters of constitutional significance that go beyond this individual case,” a spokesperson said.
“The government has therefore lodged a notice of appeal to the Court of Appeal and we are seeking expedition.
“We are also seeking expedition of the application for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court in the prior case of Dillon & Others, which touches on related matters, so that all these issues can be considered as soon as possible.
“This appeal will not delay the government’s determination to repeal and replace the Legacy Act, and to reform ICRIR to strengthen its capacity to find answers for victims and families.”
The Dillon case is led by Martina Dillon, whose husband Seamus was shot dead at the Glengannon Hotel in Dungannon in 1997.
In a Court of Appeals ruling earlier this year, Lady Chief Justice Siobhan Keegan wrote for the panel that the Legacy Act granted the UK government, specifically the Northern Ireland secretary, far too much veto power over the disclosure of information held by the state.
