Patrick O’Brien (72) walked free from court on bail despite being found guilty of regularly raping his daughter over a ten-year period.
Fiona Doyle, his daughter, broke down in tears in court and was comforted by her husband. O’Brien received a 12-year custodial sentence but was released on grounds of ill health, age and remorse by Justice Paul Carney.
Ireland’s Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny said O’Brien’s case highlighted the inadequacies in Ireland’s court system. He urged the Court of Criminal Appeal to deal with the case as a matter of urgency.
The court’s decision to release O’Brien, who pleaded guilty to raping his daughter on a weekly basis, was immediately criticized by rape crisis campaigners who described it as “mystifying,” according to the Irish Independent.
Ellen O'Malley Dunlop, chairwoman of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, said the Justice’s decision to let O’Brien walk out of court with his wife, Bridget, “beggars belief.”
Rape Crisis Network Ireland spokeswoman Cliona Saidlear said, "There is deep hurt and outrage out there. Every time there is a sentence like this, it has a lasting impact in terms of a survivor's confidence and their vindication, of survivor's rights, and a survivor going forward and feeling they will be taken seriously.”
On Facebook a public group was established on Monday night entitled “Justice for Fiona Doyle” where thousands of members of the public have voiced their outrage at the result of the case.
Justice Carney initially handed down a 12-year sentence describing the case as “one of the most serious cases of serial rape of a daughter.”
He then suspended nine years of the sentence.
O’Brien was released due to bad health despite the fact that Frances Nagle O’Connor, the director of nursing services with the Irish Prison Service, had told the court that patients with similar health issue to O’Brien received adequate care during their sentences.
The victim, Doyle, said the fact that O’Brien walked free from court “without serving one day, just one day" was devastating.
"He raped me for 10 years and he just walks out of here today. I just can't believe that this has happened.
"From the age of eight I was called my father's whore. Those words will continue to ring in my head for the rest of my life, and so will today," she said.
Kenny commended Doyle, who waived her right to anonymity, and said she showed great courage throughout the case. He said he would arrange a Parliamentary debate on the reform of the court system.
He said, “I suggest we should have a discussion about what the Oireachtas feels should be put in place for the future, given that there are inadequacies with some respects of our court system in terms of consistency, membership and capacity to respond quickly,” reports the Belfast Telegraph.
O’Brien (from Bray, County Wicklow) pleaded guilty to the charges of rape and indecent assault between 1973 and 1982. He first raped her on the night before her First Holy Communion.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Fish Hook | Apr 17, 2013, 04:16 PM EDT
There are so many rape cases around the globe now that an urgent study has to be conducted worldwide as to whether these rapist are acting out of sadism, loneliness, psychic sickness or just sheer immaturity. One major question in the study should be: Have they ever heard of or had masturbation? If they were so tensed up, why could they not relieve themselves by masturbating rather than inflicting pain and humiliation on other humans?
merefalow | Mar 22, 2013, 04:12 PM EDT
after her courage in coming forward,this is an insult,ireland needs to step into the 21st century,judicially,and sexually,discrace.
culchiewoman | Feb 13, 2013, 12:32 PM EST
I hope Enda Kenny was as shocked as we were at his lack of a State apology to Magdalene Laundry survivors. We should we continue to be shocked at Ireland's long-standing history of misogyny toward women?
johnbyrne | Feb 13, 2013, 10:08 AM EST
Fiona Doyle tried for years to get the authorities to listen to her but they though she would go away, Fiona by the stand she has taken has done more for womens rights than any government could or would even if there was the political will to do so. Fiona has done this at a great cost to her self by going public & will always be remembered for her stand on what was a despicable act as a beacon to others who are now or have in the past been abused.
Portia777 | Jan 25, 2013, 01:27 PM EST
hollabackgurl "If you want a good look at the deeply reactionary face of the conservative Irish judiciary, here it is. This is also how it consistently rules when it comes to sexual violence against women. These entitled oafs could find common cause with the Taliban." Yes rape of a child is considered no more than a poke in the eye in their sacred texts. She is only a female in Eire too and all women are deemed feeble minded under Irish law. There is so much we as service users have no idea of in this circle. Also pedophilia is about to be legalised if the USA psychiatrists have their way. Google and see Baltimore conference legalise pedophilia- child rape
Portia777 | Jan 25, 2013, 01:19 PM EST
We must remember the way judges and barristers etc are groomed in their training. Many have been conditioned to believe that fathers have a right to rape their daughters. Oh yes, it came from Richard Gardiner in USA and is used in family court in Eire and HSE. You have to hear it to believe it- but you will not as in camera rule keeps the rapes hidden and rapists cannot be charged as family law is not criminal.
aloistmartin | Jan 24, 2013, 02:20 AM EST
Crime is Capitalism`s Little Brother ... What shocks Enda Kenny, is his own reflection staring back at him through the Gallery Looking Glass ! " It has pitilessly torn asunder the motley feudal ties that bound man to his "natural superiors", and has left no other nexus between man and man than naked self-interest, than callous "cash payment". It has drowned out the most heavenly ecstasies of religious fervour, of chivalrous enthusiasm, of philistine sentimentalism, in the icy water of egotistical calculation. It has resolved personal worth into exchange value, and in place of the numberless indefeasible chartered freedoms, has set up that single, unconscionable freedom -- Free Trade. In one word, for exploitation, veiled by religious and political illusions, it has substituted naked, shameless, direct, brutal exploitation. " Karl Marx
Portia_O'Neill | Jan 23, 2013, 10:49 PM EST
Ireland has abolished the death penalty - this man is very ill and by sending him to prison for 12 years is tantamount to making the state party to a death sentence. That's a rationale for the court's decision. The victim's courage in speaking about the unspeakable might help other victims to speak out in the future.
eiriamach | Jan 23, 2013, 06:40 PM EST
While justice is not revenge, rewarding a child abuser's plea of guilty with full freedom violates justice at the opposite extreme. The judiciary's casual treatment of this crime sends the message that Ireland is a nation of throw-away children. There's no protecting children where courts leave child abusers free.
MegK311 | Jan 23, 2013, 06:06 PM EST
He is a disgusting old man who should be locked up and the key thrown away,Fiona Doyle is a very brave woman to come forward and tell her story.
Smyrnian | Jan 23, 2013, 05:39 PM EST
Judge should be disbarred and the rapist shot.
luckodeirish | Jan 23, 2013, 03:45 PM EST
His age should not be taken into consideration. It's about seeing that justice is done for for the victim. She went through all of that shame and hurt and now he has his freedom - what a slap in her face.
barnie4001 | Jan 23, 2013, 02:38 PM EST
he should have been shot
molliebawn | Jan 23, 2013, 12:46 PM EST
Where r these judges cumn frm.... he shud get 20 yrs...he's disgusting & depraved & age shud make no difference
CitizenWhy | Jan 23, 2013, 12:16 PM EST
Apparently the Irish judiciary is trying to be "fair and balanced" by extending the privileges of priest rapists to the laity.
D. Maria Paul | Jan 23, 2013, 11:45 AM EST
First let me commend Fiona Doyle for her bravery. Her speaking out, not only speaks to her own pain, but the pain of many other victims of this outrageous and cruel act. Patrick O'Brien like all sexual abusers is a coward and a schemer and the justice system in Ireland, in it's blatant disregard, failed to consider the serious repercussions these acts have ton the whole of society, more so when it's permitted to go unpunished. Shame on Ireland, if they do not speak out to have this travesty of justice corrected.
ktdearest | Jan 23, 2013, 11:32 AM EST
Really, he gets to walk because of age and health ?!? Why do we look at offenders who are old and pity them? He victimized a child who was vulnerable and needy based on age. He didn't care so why should we now care that he is now vulnerable and needy based on his age?
jerrydonovan | Jan 23, 2013, 11:30 AM EST
This "judge"should be removed from the bench and be barred from practicing law period!
Searlit | Jan 23, 2013, 11:20 AM EST
I praise Enda Kenny for speaking out.
hollabackgurl | Jan 23, 2013, 08:27 AM EST
If you want a good look at the deeply reactionary face of the conservative Irish judiciary, here it is. This is also how it consistently rules when it comes to sexual violence against women. These entitled oafs could find common cause with the Taliban.