It was worth it coming forward now people believe my daughter

THE mother of a 15-year old, who was sexually assaulted by her aunt’s partner has spoken about the anguish and hurt that the family have endured over the past two years.

Last Friday Martin Flynn of 40 Sunday’s Well, Tralee was convicted of the defilement of a girl under 17 and of sexual assault. He received a three year sentence with one year suspended. She was 15 at the time and was staying overnight with her aunt and her aunt’s partner.

In court last Friday, Barrister Tom Rice said that the girl wished for the man to be named and did not mind if that also identified her.

Speaking to The Kerryman this week her mother said that the public deserved to know what he had done.

“If she hadn’t asked for him to be named he would have gone to jail and no-one would have known. She had gone through hell for the past two-and-a-half years and now it is his hell,” she said.

The victim impact statement, which was read into court earlier this year, and which was re-iterated last Friday at the sentence hearing told about the spilt that the attack has caused to the family and how the girl’s grandmother no longer speaks to her. Others in the family have also isolated her.

Judge Tom O’Donnell said that she had been isolated by her grandmother and some of her family “because she told the truth”.

“My daughter has paid a huge price as a result of Mr Flynn’s actions,” said the mother. “She has been victim blamed. She trusted him and loved him like an uncle. I also trusted him without a doubt in my mind. He took advantage of the close and trusting relationship he had with my daughter. He was the adult and my daughter was the child,” she said.

“We are now trying to put together the pieces of our happy life that we once knew though our hearts are broken and our family will be forever torn apart.”

Both her and her daughter however have spoken out to urge other victims to come forward no matter what. It has been a difficult few years but it is has been worth it, they said.

The three year sentence, however, has been criticised by the mother who feel that it is not enough for the “irreversible” damage.

“We feared he would get a suspended sentence. Two years is not long enough for the damage but at the same time we feel lucky that he got that. There is no winner in this.”

“It was worth it coming forward. Now people believe her and her voice has been heard,” she said.

“I hope my daughters brave decision to speak out will give other victims the courage to come forward. I am so very proud to call her my daughter.”

The family also praised the Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre for their support for the family to get through this process.