‘I will never forget nightmare of court’

A WEST Kerry woman who was the victim of a sexual assault that came before court in Tralee in 2012 said she will never forget the nightmare of having to come faceto-face with her abuser because of the ‘cold, neglected and sorry’ facilities at the Tralee Courthouse.

Deborah Courtney was speaking at the official opening on Tuesday of a dedicated support room at the courthouse for victims of sexual crimes - an initiative of the Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre and the only such facility of its kind outside of Dublin.

Deborah and her sister Mary were both abused by their brother-in-law, Jimmy Flannery (76) Baile of Na Buaile, Dingle, who was ultimately convicted of sexually abusing both women and raping Mary Courtney on three occasions between 1969 and 1975.

Describing the experience of coming to court as intimidating and frightening, Ms Courtney said it was impossible for them to maintain any form of dignity as they were forced to sit in close proximity to their abuser.

The case eventually moved to the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. Ms Courtney believes that the sisters’ resolve and determination would have been weakened hugely amid the poor facilities in Tralee had the case remained here.

“The difference was light years apart [in Dublin]. They have a special victims’ support unit there, separate to the main area, which offers a huge sense of security and gave us a sense of being respected. We felt minded,” she said.

Ms Courtney said that she was proud and privileged to stand in the new facility in Tralee with members of the gardaí, Court Service and volunteers from the Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre. “Happily we’re here in this beautiful place that I hope will give a sense of value and worthiness to survivors, with the physical boundaries that will in some way give victims a sense of safety and ultimately a feeling of being respected.”

Deborah Courtney