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‘SO HARD’
Claire Byrne Live viewers ‘heartbroken’ for rape survivor as attacker only gets five year sentence
- 12:13, 1 Feb 2022
- Updated: 12:13, 1 Feb 2022
CLAIRE Byrne Live viewers were left “heartbroken” for a rape survivor last night as she bravely told how her attacker was only sentenced to five years in prison.
Aimee Foley’s father Michael O’Donoghue pleaded guilty to raping and abusing his daughter.
Last night Aimee courageously told how she had wanted a dad growing up but instead was left with a “monster”.
She said: “Growing up all I ever wanted was a father. I wanted the dad who would watch me do my music and cheer me on from the side.
“I never got that. I got the monster. I got the animal. I never had that but I was led to believe that I did.
“The abuse started at such a young age for me. It started emotionally around eight and physically around 11 and sexually around 12 years of age.
“I was groomed that way. I was completely brainwashed.
“So when everything came to light and I came out of the courtroom that day…
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“Unfortunately I have a life sentence. I will always have a life sentence.
“No matter if I learn to cope with what I have to cope with, I will have to take that with me through life.
“Whereas this man, who was supposed to be the man I loved and trusted the most, he gets five years.
“He’ll be out in less than three. He gets to go on with his life. He gets counselling and a right to education and everything in prison.
“Whereas I could have to pay for counselling here, 80 quid a session for an hour.”
‘SO HARD’
Aimee explained how difficult it will be to see her father walk freely when he comes out of prison.
She said: “It’s so hard to be on the other end of things. I just thought, ‘Why did I bother?’
“At the end of the day he’s going to be out in the blink an eye.
“I’m going to have to watch him walk the street, as long as he doesn’t talk to me he can do that.”
Aimee recalled how she felt when she heard the sentence.
She said: “It was like the world was back on my shoulders again. It was just a completely retraumatising event.
‘DEVASTATING’
“I had been through the trauma at the hands of my father for so long and then I finally felt vindicated to a certain degree, I was going through the process.
“It was the first time in my life I had control.
“And then to get the sentence that it was…It was just devastating.”
Viewers praised Aimee for bravely opening up about her horrific experience.
Treasa said: “My heart breaks for Aimee Foley. Our justice system is a joke. #cblive.”
Chris added: “It takes an unimaginable amount of courage to come out in public with these kind of stories and for judges to hand down lenient sentences for these horrific crimes is just sickening! #cblive.”
Bernadette tweeted: “What an amazing and courageous young woman Amy is. Massive respect Growing heart #cblive.”
Somebody else wrote: “Aimee foley is so strong. Fair play to her .. lets hope the sentence is changed #cblive.”
Anyone affected by the issues in this article can contact the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre on the National 24-Hour Helpline at 1800 77 8888.
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