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Dublin: 16 °C Monday 20 May, 2013

Taoiseach has not yet arranged meeting with Fiona Doyle, daughter reveals

Kristel O’Brien spoke of her mother’s ‘heartbreak’ over this week’s controversial sentencing of her rapist and father Patrick O’Brien – who is due back in court this morning.

Fiona Doyle on RTÉ News.
Fiona Doyle on RTÉ News.
Image: RTÉ News

THE DAUGHTER of rape victim Fiona Doyle has revealed that the Taoiseach has not contacted the family, despite indicating he was willing to do so, following the controversial sentencing of her mother’s rapist earlier this week.

Patrick O’Brien, the father of Fiona Doyle, pleaded guilty to charges of rape and indecent assault of his daughter over the course of ten years on Monday. Justice Paul Carney sentenced the man to 12 years in prison but suspended the final nine years and released O’Brien on bail pending an appeal.

Speaking on Newstalk’s Breakfast programme this morning, Kristel O’Brien, Fiona Doyle’s daughter and spokesperson, said that her mother had been left “heartbroken” by Monday’s sentencing – which saw her father walk from court following his conviction.

She also revealed that no-one from the Taoiseach’s office had yet contacted her mother to set up a meeting to discuss sentencing in Ireland.

“There’s no justice for victims,” she told Newstalk. “The whole court system is an abuse of victims.”

O’Brien, 72, has been called to appear again at the Central Criminal Court this morning.

Supporters of Fiona Doyle and other sexual abuse victims in Ireland have organised two protests for Saturday, 26 January. The first will be held at 12.30 pm at Leinster House, the other in Fiona’s hometown of Bray.

Read: Two protests to be held in support of rape victim Fiona Doyle
Read: Fiona Doyle case has ‘filled the nation with revulsion’ – Taoiseach

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Comments (30 Comments)

  • Bail revoked, justice Carney admits he was wrong.

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    • Is he really competent to be making decisions if he can’t get the simplest thing right? I think that judge needs to be taken from the courts system.

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    • Yes Judge had no choice he saw the amount of outrage by the People of Ireland and I do hope that these planned marches are still going ahead so that this will NEVER happen again with such filth in our society I hope on his appeal that he looses the suspended 9years and has to serve the full 12 years that was imposed
      I wish Fiona Doyle all the very best she is such a strong and dignified lady and an inspiration to us all

      Reply
  • The amount of sexual abuse that occurred and may still be happening in this country is of massive proportions, the shame has stopped many from coming forward over the decades. Also families hiding their dirty little secrets , protecting the perpetrator has led to many victims just giving up on life.this is a scandal and once again our little island is the laughing stock of the world. The list of gombeenism is getting longer weekly.

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  • I feel very sorry for this woman. Firstly let down by her parents and then after getting the courage to persue her piece of garbage of a father , she’s then let down by the state

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  • Judge Paul Carney has a very disturbing career of ridiculous sentences http://unitedirelander.blogspot.ie/2007/03/justice-carney-must-be-removed.html?m=1

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  • Thought he is in Davos at the moment?

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  • I presume he can’t until after the appeal………

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  • If Enda Kenny said he was willing to meet Fiona Doyle then he should have arranged to meet her immediately. Again more hollow words from this very poor performing Taoiseach. I hope Fiona gets justice today in court.

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  • At least this woman’s story has been told. Although the courts and people who she placed her trust in has failed her maybe she can get some comfort from the comments of the public who voiced their outrage and are going to protest at the outcome of her court case..There is very little true justice and this woman will still have to find a way of coming to terms with what happened to her..The government will play politics and judicial system will juggle law, makes one wonder who will look after the welfare of this woman and the rest of the society who are relying on a system which is supposed to protect and serve them…

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  • How is he not banged up for life? What the f**k is wrong with this country!!! How can a judge that is paid by our taxes not do as we pay him?? So it seems that you can destroy a country, take it for every penny and then rape it’s people without consequence but don’t dare refuse to pay your household charge or you’ll be locked up!! If North Korea has any spare nukes the should send em this way, level this place as a people we have failed, we are dumb, useless, dysfunctional and don’t deserve a country to ourselves.

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  • JakkiB 24/01/13 #

    Was the Judge even awake while listening to this courtcase?!?!

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  • I feel that the coalition parties are so arrogant and so far up their own backsides that they will only meet this woman when they are good and ready.
    It was the same with Savitta.
    They need to feel the human out cry that threatens their power.
    The people are sooo farrr below them,,,,!!!!!.they look like a tiny particle of dirt.

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    • Gerry
      The Constitution is quite clear on the separation of powers and it would be totally wrong of the Taoiseach to meet this lady until after today’s Court hearing. Anyone who has ever met Mr Kenny would know that he is extremely down to earth and friendly. Every day on his walk from home to his office he will chat with other commuters and never turns away from anyone. I should know as I’ve met him on numerous occasions.
      The idea that you need to slander the man because of a criminal law case that has nothing to do with him Constitutionally is a reflection of an ugly persona on your part.

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    • How can he be so “down to earth” as you say and so far removed at the same time?
      He will stop and talk to anyone? But won’t do interviews and answer some of the hard questions that people in this country want answered.
      You sure you got the right Enda Kenny? He’s a little wooden fella with a big long nose?

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    • JP
      Where did you get the idea that the Taoiseach won’t answer journalists questions. I don’t speak for him or indeed any politician but I saw him walking into RTE last weekend for a very broad ranging interview and it didn’t seem that any subject was off the agenda. I understand he refuses on principle to meet with Vincent Brown but nobody would be surprised at that as the man is a boor and a bully who only wants to hear his own stutters.
      So basically JP you’re talking rubbish unless you can give us chapter and verse!

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    • No he won’t meet with anyone if he feels he’s in for a hard time, being interviewed by RTE, get real !!
      Your obviously very close to him if you see him skipping from home to office and into RTE for interviews.
      We’ll agree to disagree, you think he’s a great man, open,honest, friendly. I think he is useless, dishonest and a complete disgrace as a leader.
      But what can I do? You and your lot voted him in.

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    • JP go back to watching Jeremy Kyle, reading the sun and spew your whingey nonsense elsewhere.

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  • Everyone here is putting a heavy reliance on experts, so what do the experts say, they say that 85-95% of ALL child abuse including Rape takes place in the family home or by someone well known to the family, they tell us that 95% of all children Raped by ‘Religious’ were Raped by Homophiles, they tell us that women abuse children at the same rate as men, they tell us that the HSE has 26,000 files relating to self-confessed female child rapists in Ireland (this does not include physical, psychological, physical abuse) – purely sex criminals) why have these 26,000 women not be handed over to the Gardai, well, mainly because we treat women who rape children differently than we do men who rape children, when women rape children it is excused as mental illness, when men rape children it is a crime, unless you have lots of money and you are able to buy yourself out of it, plenty of cases could be quoted. The experts also tell us that those people who conceal child rape are Child Rapists by Proxy and they will at some point molest or rape a child. Operation Amyesist told us that child rape takes places in the highest and lowest echelons of society. Prison does not work for those who engage in sexual crime against adults or children; although a small number of people must be incarcerated due to the psychopathic nature of their crimes. If people are serious about addressing child rape in Ireland, we need to be open and honest and not skulk behind banner headlines as Fianna Fail done for 14 years after promising in their Manifesto in 1997 that they would introduce Mandatory Reporting of child rape This Government has made very positive moves, the next move is to introduce Mandatory reporting of child rape, then as a nation we must work for change of mind, attitude and culture, we must stop treating child rape as we have for so long treated drink driving…both equally criminal..

    http://sexcrimeireland.blogspot.ie/

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  • Correction – her daughters name is Kristel O’Brien, not Doyle.

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  • Reg 24/01/13 #

    The judge has apologised this morning for ant distress caused and has canceled bail.

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  • your wrong amy her name is doyle I went to school with her

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