Sisters raped by priest brother call for witnesses to be paid for full trial
Earlier this month, Richard Brennan - a former priest - was handed down an eight-year sentence for six counts of rape and 18 indecent assaults from 1978 to 1985. Brave victims Paula Fay and Catherine Wrightstone said this is "not long enough" and have called for a number of reforms in the judicial system.
Speaking to Oliver Callan on RTÉ Radio 1, Paula said: "I informed my employer that I was going to be a witness in a trial (and) the trial would take approximately three weeks. When I sought leave from my job I was informed all I was entitled to was annual leave or unpaid leave, that there was nothing in law to protect me as a witness."
Witnesses are entitled to be paid by their employer on days they are on the stand, which would typically be a day or two. However, Paula said she was "completely committed to the process" from the beginning and felt the need to be there for the full trial.
She continued: "Jury members are entitled to be paid by their employers. I feel that something needs to change, that witnesses are also doing their civic duty." The sisters, whose other brother Bernard had been jailed earlier this year for four and half years for 11 counts of indecent assault, would also like to see legislative changes when it comes to historic sexual abuse cases.
Catherine said while she was treated well while taking the stand at the Central Criminal Court and believes the judge did all he could when it came to sentencing, the law has failed them. She said: "I think Irish courts seem to have broad discretion over such cases as ours and lenient sentences, especially in historical sexual abuse cases are sometimes justified on the basis of remorse and time elapsed.
"One of the things I find disturbing is the offender's recent good character provided by family and friends, who only know what that person allows them to know. In terms of reform I would love to see an introduction of mandatory binding sentencing guidelines that treat sexual abuse and rape as serious offences regardless of the time elapsed and create a statutory offence under sexual assault for sibling sexual abuse."
The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Richard, 64, pleaded guilty during his trial to raping and indecently assaulting Paula when she was between 15 and 17 years old. He also pleaded guilty to raping and indecently assaulting Catherine when she was between nine and 13 years old and indecently assaulting a third sister, Yvonne Crist, when she was 20.
The former priest changed his plea deal after all three sisters had given evidence and Paula and Yvonne were cross-examined.
Catherine continued: "I think they need to disallow mitigation based solely on family support and the lack of other convictions because these predatory urges don't just magically disappear, especially when there is no intervention and decades of denial of abuse are present, which was up until the end with Richard.
"They also need to clarify in legislation that delayed disclosure due to trauma and family pressure are not grounds for leniency because the seriousness of the offences does not diminish with time so the law should reflect the continuing harm."
Get all the big crime and court stories direct to your phone on our new WhatsApp service. Sign up here.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
The Irish Independent's View: Remembering the Miami Showband killings – the day the music died at hands of callous murderers
The Miami Showband massacre, half-a-century ago this weekend, was one of those horror stories that seized everyone with the realities of terrorism. Here was a group of musicians from both sides of the Border and from unionist and nationalist traditions who attracted crowds from all communities in the North, as well as in the Republic, whose only interest was a mutual love of music, dancing and a good time. Then a gang of Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) killers, many of whom were part of the auxiliary British army Ulster Defence Regiment, made a botched attempt to plant a bomb in the Miami van at a bogus checkpoint in the North. When the incompetent bombers' device exploded prematurely, the paramilitaries shot all around them, killing three band members. Only two escaped alive. Fifty years on, this remains an unresolved story of collusion between the British security services and loyalist paramilitaries. It dovetails with other incidents, such as the Dublin and Monaghan bombings 14 months earlier, in May 1974, which leaves other unanswered questions in Dublin-London relations. It also helps us to reflect on lesser-known victims of murder and mayhem There is clear evidence from many sources telling us that this murderous incident was an attempt by elements in London to coerce the Dublin government in 1974 to be more co-operative with the British security services. London was demanding ever tighter south-north border controls and extradition to an already suspect British judicial system, as subsequently shown by the railroading of innocent Irish suspects. The conspiracy aimed at portraying the Miami Showband as bomb transporters, which might have succeeded, was to be part of that pact. In the event, two band members survived to reveal the truth. The legacy of the Miami Showband is about more than just music – it is about bringing people together. It also helps us to reflect on lesser-known victims of murder and mayhem. We are reminded that many people died on this island to achieve a peace deal that was sketched out more than 50 years ago in the power-sharing agreement at Sunningdale. Yesterday, a survivor of the Miami Showband ambush spoke of the importance of remembering as he recalled the loss of his bandmates – singer Fran O'Toole, guitarist Tony Geraghty and trumpeter Brian McCoy. The two survivors, Des Lee and Stephen Travers, were among those who gathered at the roadside where the atrocity happened to honour the innocent victims. Mr Travers said they still want to tell the world of the Miami Showband legacy, which is that people from all sectors had come simply to dance, sing and enjoy.
Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish EuroMillions player guaranteed to become a millionaire in special draw
One Irish EuroMillions player is guaranteed to become a millionaire in a special draw tonight (August 1). Tonight's EuroMillions draw will feature an extra special 'Ireland Only' Raffle event, which will include a guaranteed €1,005,000 prize for one player. As with every EuroMillions draw, ten players will win €5,000 with their unique raffle ticket number and among them, one fortunate winner will have an additional €1,000,000 added to their prize, making them the 16th National Lottery millionaire of the year with a total prize worth €1,005,000. In addition to this guaranteed €1,000,500 for one Irish EuroMillions player, tonight's EuroMillions jackpot also rolls to an estimated €170 million. Players dreaming of becoming Ireland's newest EuroMillions winner are reminded that tickets for tonight's draw can be purchased in-store, through the National Lottery app or here ahead of the 7.30pm cut off. Meanwhile, a Mayo player has secured €47,002 after matching five numbers and the bonus in Wednesday night's main Lotto draw. The winning Quick Pick Play was purchased on the day of the draw from Hiney's Londis in Crossmolina. The winning numbers in Wednesday's Lotto draw were: 4, 24, 26, 31, 39, 40 and the bonus was 44. While there was no winner of the Lotto jackpot worth €13,185,721, in total over 54,000 players won prizes in the Lotto and Lotto Plus draws, including the Mayo player who matched five numbers and the bonus in the main Lotto draw. Darragh O'Dwyer, National Lottery spokesperson, said: 'What a fantastic night for one player in Mayo who has claimed a life-enhancing €47,002 after matching five numbers and the bonus in last night's main Lotto draw. 'If you bought your ticket in Mayo, now's the time to double-check, you could be Ireland's newest big winner.' Get all the big crime and court stories direct to your phone on our new WhatsApp service. Sign up here. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Irish Examiner
7 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Jennifer Horgan: Bereaved families want to discuss domestic homicide — we owe it to them to talk about it
We don't know what happened in Fermanagh — not exactly. We know only the basic facts: Another woman, Vanessa Whyte, and her two children, James and Sara Rutledge, have been killed in their home on this island. The suspected killer, their husband and father Ian Rutledge, died days later — all four dying from gunshot wounds. It is now being referred to as a suspected triple murder and suicide. Vanessa Whyte was in her 40s; James was 14 and Sara was 13. In the hours and days after the shooting, we were all warned — with a fervour reserved for such crimes — not to speculate. Such warnings form one small part of a wider refusal to look at domestic violence head-on, to examine it in the same way we examine violence in general We all know that if these horrendous deaths had occurred on a city street, the word "evil" would have already made it to print. No sensitivity would have been shown to the family of the suspected perpetrator. When it happens in a home we respond differently — with a sinister meekness, tiptoeing around the grounds of the property and the event, respectful of the privacy of the family, the loss of life inside. This distorted restraint in public discourse allows us to pretend that events like these happen very, very rarely. In truth, they are disturbingly regular. This month, 53-year-old Stephen Mooney, of Kilbarrack Rd, Dublin, was jailed for the murder of his wife Anna, 43, at their home on June 15, 2023. Days ago, 34-year-old Keith Byrne was jailed for 15 years for the brutal murder of his Irish girlfriend Kirsty Ward at their Spanish holiday hotel room. The parents of Kirsty Ward, who was found lying in a corridor by staff, have shared their pain at the sentence given to their daughter's killer. In direct contrast to the rest of us, individuals directly affected by these devastating crimes are taking immediate action and speaking out Jason Poole, whose sister Jennifer Poole was murdered by her former partner Gavin Murphy in April 2021, hopes to have a law named after his sister introduced next year. The legislation will mean people found guilty of domestic violence offences will go on a register to protect future victims. Jason Poole, brother of murdered Jennifer Poole, hopes to have a law named after his sister introduced next year. File Picture: Collins Courts Another bereaved brother is fighting a different but related battle. David French, the sibling of murdered West Cork woman Valerie French Kilroy says a "loophole in child safety in Ireland" permits those who kill their partners or ex-partners to retain guardianship of their shared children. He has been courageously vocal in his battle explaining the extent of his devastation, saying: "My sisters and I have been consumed by this since the murder and there is no end in sight. We have lost someone who was a continual source of joy and loving consideration. "Crimes like this have a ripple effect on relationships, employment, and health. Our children have been deeply traumatised by the sudden loss of their beloved Aunt Valerie, and haunted by thoughts of the killer who we welcomed into our family and as a guest in our homes." Similarly, Clodagh Hawe's mother and sister fought relentlessly to have her body, and the bodies of her children, removed from the same grave as their killer. Close family members want to talk openly about these crimes. Why can't the rest of us? Courageously, they voice their pain and devastation; they confront what needs to be confronted, blasting through our bizarre reverence in response to these most horrendous crimes. So, how can we help them and future victims in how we discuss domestic violence? More needs to be done to manage the reporting of these crimes. Spokespeople and representatives, in particular, need a briefing in how to respond. As it is, they are permitted to say they are in "shock". Every time it is said, again, that they simply can't believe that something so horrific and out of the ordinary has taken place. Again and again, an emphasis is placed on how "close-knit" the community was, how peaceful, how homely. No matter how high the number of instances go, this is all part of a blanket refusal to except that domestic violence is at epidemic levels in Ireland. No community is beyond its reach. No home, however happy it might seem, is safe from its blight The truth is that nobody has a right to say they are shocked anymore — especially not officials interviewed after these events. Our doubt, our disbelief, lets violence in. Domestic violence, like all violence, flourishes in ignorance and silence. The family of Valerie French Kilroy are pushing to change the law that permits those who kill their partners or ex-partners to retain guardianship of their shared children. File Picture: Collins Courts Former DUP leader Arlene Foster said of this latest shooting in a home in Fermanagh was 'just absolutely devastating' and the 'last thing' you expect to hear from a place she described as 'a very sleepy little village in Fermanagh'. We don't know the details yet, we can't know them, but the instant refusal to believe such awfulness can occur anywhere is simply unacceptable. The longer we talk about how an otherwise perfect little village is stunned, the longer this famine of neighbourhood awareness, this tsunami of denial, is likely to continue. Back in June, Women's Aid confirmed that 180 women have been killed in their own homes (63% of femicide) since 1996. Some 87% of women (where the case has been resolved) were killed by a man known to them. In almost all murder-suicide cases (23 out of 24), the killer was the woman's current or former intimate partner. Some 20 children have died during incidents where women have died violently. Nobody should be permitted to say they are 'shocked', because to say so is to wash our hands of the truth Domestic violence is pervasive in Ireland. Every time a woman or her children are killed in their home, we should recall the last crime and the one before that. Yes, this will a painful reminder to many, but bereaved families want the discussion. They are leading the discussion. It's the rest of us who are the problem. Other damaging framing devices are used too — including the concentration on nature throughout any visual reporting. A camera sweeps across a forest or zooms in on a babbling brook. In print media, an article starts with the description of rolling hills and grazing animals. Presumably, such exposition is used to suggest that the violence about to be reported is against nature in some way. The sad truth is that domestic violence is very much in the nature of people — and in the nature of men most particularly. It is not a freakishly uncommon act; it happens everywhere, all the time. Then there is the focus on what a normal family they appeared to be. Why? It is as if to suggest that there is a defining characteristic belonging solely to people who are destined to die in their home. And why the focus on the size of the village or the town or its geographical location? Might a certain size of town should preclude us from these events? These things only happen in the big cities, right? Those dens of iniquity that carry a faulty moral compass. Ireland needs to wake up to itself. In 2024, Women's Aid heard 46,765 disclosures of abuse — including 41,432 disclosures of abuse against women and 5,333 disclosures of abuse against children. One in four women in Ireland experienced sexual violence as an adult with a partner. An Garda Síochána responded to over 65,000 domestic abuse incidents in 2024, which translates to an average of 1,250 incidents every week. The word "tragedy" is also used incorrectly by sources following the worst examples of domestic violence, those ending in death. What is a tragedy? What makes something tragic? Really, it means a sad death. A far more appropriate word here is an "atrocity". It is an atrocity that has happened — a cruel and violent act. How we respond to domestic violence matters. Killers and rapists are not afforded immediate deference and respect when they strike randomly on our streets. People who strike in their own home are no different. The act is the same. The results are the same. Denial, deference, and shock are simply not good enough anymore — from anyone.
