Social Affairs

Survivors to launch forum on sexual abuse

Fiona Doyle to speak at ANU Campaign event

Fiona Doyle speaking to the media in January after her father, Patrick O'Brien, who was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting her, had his bail rescinded. She will be one of the speakers at the ANU Campaign conference on Saturday in Dublin. Photograph: Alan Betson

Jason Kennedy
Thu Apr 4 2013 - 06:00


A campaign aiming to create a public forum to address the issue of sexual abuse in Ireland will be launched this weekend. The ANU Campaign will begin with a conference, where sexual abuse survivors Fiona Doyle, Cynthia Owen and Joyce, June and Paula Kavanagh will speak.

The event is focused on providing a platform to address the Irish justice system’s dealings with survivors of sex abuse, services for survivors and the provision of training for those dealing with them.

Campaigners will also call for more rigorous sentencing for sex abuse offenders to act as a deterrent.

Ms Doyle was sexually abused by her father for almost a decade. Her case caused a public outcry when her father was released on bail in anticipation of an appeal of his 12-year sentence, of which nine years were suspended by Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court. His bail was subsequently revoked and the Director of Public Prosecutions is appealing the sentence.

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The conference and campaign launch take place on Saturday from 9am to 5pm in the Camden Court Hotel in Dublin and is open to the public.

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