A woman who was sexually assaulted as a teenage babysitter has spoken out following the sentencing of the man who sexually assaulted her.
Martin O’Brien (54) of Gurrane, Belclare, Tuam, Co Galway pleaded guilty to four charges of sexual assault on dates between June 1st, 2012 and February 2014.
He has a previous conviction for multiple sexual assault offences against a 10-year-old child when he was between 13 and 14 years old.
Carl Hanahoe SC, prosecuting, told the court that the victim in this case, Áine McHugh, who was aged between 16 and 17 years old at the time, wishes to waive her anonymity.
I am Áine McHugh and I have waived my right to anonymity because I no longer carry feelings of guilt or shame.
Ms McHugh read her victim impact statement at a previous hearing in July, during which she described O’Brien “as sub-human, a monster and master manipulator” who violated her in every way possible while she cared for his children.
Justice Kerida Naidoo said that Ms McHugh was “a gifted and enthusiastic” traditional musician whom O’Brien recruited to babysit his children.He noted from her victim impact statement that the assaults greatly affected her and that she had described it as “progressively killing me from the inside out”
She described the man as sub-human, a monster, and a sexual predator with animalistic behaviour.
Ms McHugh said O’Brien groomed her and did everything he could to break her down “piece by piece”.
“He has destroyed the life I hoped for,” she said.
She said he repeatedly sexually assaulted her while she cared for his children and tried to protect them. “He is a master manipulator, a bully – he violated me in every sense of the world.”
Following the sentencing, Ms McHugh spoke outside the court: "I am Áine McHugh and I have waived my right to anonymity because I no longer carry feelings of guilt or shame. Today, I return all guilt and shame back to where it belongs, to Martin O’Brien, who forced this suffering on me and later my parents and family.
"Sexual abuse manifests and festers in silence, I know because I suffered in silence. Secrets and silence enable the perpetrators. To the adults who stay silent and decide to ignore or look the other way: that guilt and shame also belongs to you.
"I want to speak to every child or teenager who has suffered or is suffering sexual abuse, if you can hear me, please know that you have done nothing wrong.
"There is nothing wrong with you. Please tell an adult you trust. To the adults who may receive their disclosure: please listen, help them and do the right thing.
"I never thought that I would be free of this, but I have survived, and I feel free today. He no longer controls my life.
"I will be forever grateful to those who sought justice before me. Their bravery and the courage of their convictions gave me hope in my darkest days. I would also like to thank the detectives and gardaí in the Galway Divisional Protective Services Unit, as well as the Galway and Dublin Rape Crisis Centres for their dedication, professionalism, and support."
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help.
