TWO RALLIES SCHEDULED for this weekend to show support for rape victim Fiona Doyle are to go ahead this weekend, after her father and rapist Patrick O’Brien was jailed yesterday for abusing her over a ten year period.
Patrick O’Brien, 72, was sentenced to 12 years in jail with nine suspended after pleading guilty to raping and indecently assaulting his daughter during her childhood.
In a move that provoked outrage across the country, Justice Paul Carney on Monday granted O’Brien on bail – meaning he walked out of court following his guilty plea and conviction.
Doyle waived her right to anonymity to speak out about the case, and on Thursday told reporters she felt ”vindicated” after her father was summoned back to court where his bail was revoked. Justice Paul Carney told the court he accepted the procedure he adopted in sentencing O’Brien was “inappropriate”.
Speaking on Newstalk’s Breakfast programme this morning, Doyle’s daughter Kristal O’Brien said the rallies organised in the wake of the initial sentencing would go ahead in honour of sexual abuse victims everywhere.
“It’s not just about my mum – this is about everyone, everywhere,”said O’Brien. “Justice yesterday was for my mum, and we have the whole public to thank for that, tomorrow is justice for everyone. This is to change the laws so that this never happens to another woman again,” said O’Brien, who noted that men are also the victims of sexual abuse and must be represented too.
O’Brien said that the Taoiseach Enda Kenny had agreed to meet with her mother next week to discuss the case.
“I’m absolutely delighted that he is going to do this, he seems to be a man of his word,” O’Brien said. “I think he’ll get a better understanding of what life is like for an abuse victim, and then maybe he’ll be able to stand up and say what is justifiable for a minimum sentencing for an abuser.”
Fiona Doyle will appear on RTÉ’s Late Late Show this evening to talk about her experiences and the case.
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