A woman who was physically and sexually abused by her father for years exhibited all the classic symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder when examined by a clinical psychologist, the High Court was told yesterday.
Ms Sabina Christianson said Ms Sophia McColgan (27) was still suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and psychological and emotional difficulties and had to bear "a constant life sentence".
Yesterday was the seventh day of the action in which Ms McColgan, of Ridgepool Village, Castlebar, Co Mayo, and formerly of Ballinacarrow, Ballymote, Co Sligo, is suing the North Western Health Board and Dr Desmond Moran, Stephen Street, Sligo. Proceedings have also been taken by her sister Michelle, and brothers Gerard and Keith.
The McColgans were assaulted by their father, Joseph, over a number of years from the late 1970s until the late 1980s or early 1990s. He is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence.
The defendants deny negligence or breach of duty and claim there was contributory negligence by parties other than them.
In court yesterday Ms Christianson said she interviewed Ms McColgan for 10 hours in February and March 1997 and found her to be suffering from long and short-term effects arising out of her relationship with her father.
She had emotional numbness, was totally detached from feelings, had low self-esteem and a distorted body image.
Ms Christianson said she had a need to control and be controlled. She had difficulty with relationships. She suffered flashbacks to her past and when having intercourse with her partner would recall her father having sexual relations with her. She also suffered nightmares and panic attacks.
Asked by Mr Garrett Cooney SC, for Ms McColgan, what degree of post-traumatic stress disorder his client had, Ms Christianson said that on a scale of one to 10 she was close to 10.
In some areas, Ms McColgan had done outstandingly well. She had a 2.1 college degree.
Ms Christianson said every individual functioned on many levels. Ms McColgan was very far back on an emotional and psychological level. She did not trust people. She had never been taught normal love and security and had no skills with which to trust.
Cross-examined by Mr John Rogers SC, for the health board, Ms Christianson said she had last seen Ms McColgan in November last and found very little difference from her presentation in March 1996. She had seen her for between two and four hours in November. Ms McColgan was having ongoing difficulties with her relationship. Asked if her emotional and intimate life had improved, Ms Christianson said she would say it had not. She may have improved in certain areas.
Ms Christianson said she believed Ms McColgan was handicapped on the basis that she was totally debilitated and had a great struggle every day of her life. While able to manage her educational affairs, there were other areas of her life which she was unable to manage.
She agreed with Mr Rogers that it was a rational decision for the woman to decide to pursue her degree before confronting the revelations about her father's physical and sexual abuse of her.
Cross-examined by Mr Patrick Hanratty SC, for Dr Moran, Ms Christianson said Ms McColgan was still suffering the legacy of the abuse perpetrated by her father but hopefully in time would learn to cope. This legacy or burden was ongoing and would remain, depending on the therapy and type of counselling she received.
A psychiatrist, Dr Ivor Browne, said he specialised in the treatment of adult victims of sexual or physical abuse and thought he perhaps had more experience in this field than any other psychiatrist in Ireland.
He saw Ms McColgan in 1997. He said she had spoken to him of abuse inflicted by her father. When she was six, the family returned to Ireland when serious sexual and physical abuse occurred and continued for many years thereafter.
Ms Ruth McNeilly, a counsellor with Mayo Rape Crisis Centre, said Ms McColgan had been referred to her from Limerick Rape Crisis Centre in July 1995. She was very traumatised, a "shell", and a "very fragmented person".
She was extremely suspicious of her, the counsellor said. She saw herself supporting Ms McColgan as opposed to counselling her at the time.
For nine months they talked. When her sister had a baby she saw a response from Ms McColgan. She was not receptive until she had her own baby. After that, they began talking very slowly about what was going to happen to her.
She began to progress slowly. She had a lot of distorted thinking. She would feel she was responsible and was essentially a bad person.
She saw everything ending up in a catastrophe. She saw her sister Michelle's baby as the first time something good happened. Her biggest progress had been in the last few months, since August last.
The hearing continues today before Mr Justice Johnson.