So the wait for the release of Chapter 20 is over and 48 hours have passed since it's release. I am still digesting the contents. All I could do until now, is imagine and read between the lines of the previously released parts.
I never for one moment expected to be faced with the revelations contained within it.
I never saw myself as a criminal worthy of such Garda interest.
I never believed that wanting to be acknowledged as a victim of clerical sexual abuse would warrant what turns out to be a witch hunt by the very people I expected to serve and protect me and my family.
I never thought for one moment that by threatening to make my experience public would cause such a stir that my phone would be tapped.
I never expected to be such a priority for the Gardai that an 'exhaustive investigation' would be undertaken into me and a close personal interest taken in me, by the Commissioner of the Irish Police force.
I never could have foreseen a time in my life when I would be the subject of a 'strongly worded' recommendation from the Gardai to the Director of Public Prosecutions, that I should be prosecuted for blackmail.
I never envisaged a system where a victim of crime is viewed as the perpetrator of crime in the eyes of the law.
I never imagined for one moment, that by telling the truth and trying to prevent others having similar experiences, I could land myself and my family in so much trouble with the authorities.
I never wanted to live in a country where doing the right thing was so wrong.
I never cease to be amazed how an organisation and culture can be influenced to the extent that all sense of morality, honesty and integrity plays second fiddle to deceit, cover-up and self preservation.
I never really wanted any of this to dominate my life for the past 37 years but these revelations have shocked, saddened and disappointed me beyond what I could have imagined. How many others have unwittingly been the subject of phone tapping and exhaustive investigation?....for doing the right thing.
Showing posts with label garda. Show all posts
Showing posts with label garda. Show all posts
Sunday, 14 July 2013
RTE NEWS - No prosecution of gardaí over paedophile priest
RTE NEWS - 13th July 2013
Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has said no prosecution
is to be taken against current or former gardaí who connived with the Catholic
Church to protect paedophile former priest Patrick McCabe.
The Commissioner was responding to the Murphy Commission's
finding that a previous commissioner had taken a personal interest in pursuing
a blackmail complaint against McCabe's first known victim and that the man's
phone was tapped.
In a statement tonight, the commissioner told RTÉ News that
following a garda investigation into the force's handling of the McCabe case,
the DPP had decided that no prosecution was to be taken against current or
former gardaí.
He said it is a matter of regret to him personally that
people did not receive the appropriate attention and action from gardaí to
which they were entitled.
In 1977, the then Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Ryan, was
told that a 14-year-old boy had been sexually abused by McCabe at his boarding
school. It was also alleged that when the boy complained to his
headmaster, a member of a religious order, he also abused the boy.
A church investigator told Archbishop Ryan the complaint was
well-founded, but nothing was done.
Ten years later in 1987, the first complainant against the
paedophile priest came forward again to the diocese demanding compensation from
McCabe "for ruining his life". He wanted McCabe reprimanded and to prevent him from abusing
others, or otherwise the victim would sell his story to the media.
A priest at the man's former school complained the victim
was blackmailing him. An exhaustive and comprehensive garda investigation followed
into the blackmailing allegation that went all the way to the then
commissioner's desk.
But the Director of Public Prosecutions refused to
prosecute.
Only then did gardaí begin an investigation of the victim's
original complaint of sexual assault.
CLICK HERE to see the article and see the video report on the RTE website.
Sunday, 24 March 2013
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
2003 - 2013
The past ten years since the Garda investigation started in earnest, has been filled with incredible highs and lows, given that McCabe was living in the U.S.A. Just when I thought there was some hope, it would be dashed by some legality or other. At this time I was also advised to take a civil case against the Dublin Diocese and Newbridge College combined. I received a nominal award but the disclaimer I had to sign was mostly stating the church accepted no liability. To me this was not Justice. They had merely ticked a box on a very long list.
There were many times when I thought no criminal prosecution would take place at all. The Irish Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had reservations. It was not going to be easy to prosecute the case, nor was it going to be easy to extradite him from America back to Ireland.
The Gardai submitted my file several times to the DPP and he directed that no prosecution should take place.I then started writing to the DPP in Dublin and started to explain what happened at the hands of both priests, the affect it was having on my life and the affect it had on my parents lives. (I just stopped short of offering an internal organ in return for an attempt at prosecution).
McCabe was asked if he would allow an interview by the Irish Garda and he declined. Some time after the Garda were given permission to travel to America to interview him. This time he agreed and told the Gardai enough to build a case for extradition.
I continued to write to the DPP each time I found new evidence, even if it was the name of a Bishop or Monsignor that my Mother and I had visited. When I remembered the smallest detail I would forward it to the Gardai and the DPP. I've lost count of how often I wrote but it didn't matter because I was like a dog with a bone.
I owed it to my Mother's memory to do whatever I could to see justice done. She had made it her personal quest and I had no option but to continue that quest.
_________________________________________________________________
Moves begin in US to extradite ex-priest over abuse claims
There were many times when I thought no criminal prosecution would take place at all. The Irish Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had reservations. It was not going to be easy to prosecute the case, nor was it going to be easy to extradite him from America back to Ireland.
The Gardai submitted my file several times to the DPP and he directed that no prosecution should take place.I then started writing to the DPP in Dublin and started to explain what happened at the hands of both priests, the affect it was having on my life and the affect it had on my parents lives. (I just stopped short of offering an internal organ in return for an attempt at prosecution).
McCabe was asked if he would allow an interview by the Irish Garda and he declined. Some time after the Garda were given permission to travel to America to interview him. This time he agreed and told the Gardai enough to build a case for extradition.
I continued to write to the DPP each time I found new evidence, even if it was the name of a Bishop or Monsignor that my Mother and I had visited. When I remembered the smallest detail I would forward it to the Gardai and the DPP. I've lost count of how often I wrote but it didn't matter because I was like a dog with a bone.
I owed it to my Mother's memory to do whatever I could to see justice done. She had made it her personal quest and I had no option but to continue that quest.
_________________________________________________________________
Moves begin in US to extradite ex-priest over abuse claims
EXTRADITION proceedings have begun in the United States against an elderly former Irish priest accused of child sex abuse offences.
Patrick McCabe (74), who now lives in California, is the subject of 10 warrants that have been issued in the Irish courts for his extradition.
Nine relate to allegations of indecent assault and one to attempted indecent assault. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail if found guilty in an Irish court of the offences.
Mr McCabe was remanded in custody last week and will remain there pending the full extradition hearing which is likely to take place this autumn. October 25th has been requested by his defence for the extradition hearing.
_________________________________________________________________
The trial date was set for Feb 2012 but was postponed. I was then issued with a subpoena to appear before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in July 2012. When I got to court, he had issued a reduced plea, which I was willing to accept but it was too removed from the facts of the case. Trial postponed until Feb 2013.
We depart tomorrow for our 4th Court appearance in 6 weeks. I'm not giving any consideration to what sentence will be given. My expectations are somewhere between barrel-bottom and low.
The most important point I would like to make is that there are no victories attached to any of this. No champagne corks will be popped in celebration. What it is on Friday is what it should have been 37 years ago and that is plain and simple justice.
After all, Justice is a civil right.
Friday, 20 June 2003
Bolt from the blue.
(Date approximate)
26 years had passed since I left Newbridge College and 16 years since I made my statement to the Gardai. . I had drifted from country to country, job to job, one partner to the next, and alcohol was a good friend to me. I was doing everything to excess and in dozens!
My life had settled down somewhat and there was a sense of continuity in my life. I had been with my partner Phil for 6 years and although he knew about my past and was very understanding, our life together was not without its difficulties.We found a way through difficult issues and times, which brought us closer together.
I had found a way, over the years to 'file away' lots of emotion and confusion when I needed to. It had it down to a fine art!
I was in the office at home, and the phone rang. Inspector Sean Lavin of Kildare Garda station introduced himself. He sounded hesitant. He informed me that he had uncovered a file regarding sexual abuse which occurred in 1977. I confirmed it was my statement, and then he dropped the bombshell,
DO YOU WANT TO PRESS CHARGES?
I asked him if I could take some time to consider it and get back to him.
Phil and I discussed the ramifications for me personally, for us as a couple, for my family, and if the changes it would bring would be of benefit to anyone. We talked and talked and the same word kept emerging.
Truth.
I called him back and said I was willing to pursue it. So in 2003 the ball started rolling again. The floodgates of emotion opened wider and deeper than ever. I was finding it more difficult than ever to cope with triggers and flashbacks, anger, resentment, and confusion. Our lives were affected much more than imagined and it was then we decided that counselling was my best option.
Summer 2003 I started attending one to one person centered therapy sessions and initially I found it was making no difference. Over time we could both see some important changes but little did I realise the counselling would continue for at least 10 years.
26 years had passed since I left Newbridge College and 16 years since I made my statement to the Gardai. . I had drifted from country to country, job to job, one partner to the next, and alcohol was a good friend to me. I was doing everything to excess and in dozens!
My life had settled down somewhat and there was a sense of continuity in my life. I had been with my partner Phil for 6 years and although he knew about my past and was very understanding, our life together was not without its difficulties.We found a way through difficult issues and times, which brought us closer together.
I had found a way, over the years to 'file away' lots of emotion and confusion when I needed to. It had it down to a fine art!
I was in the office at home, and the phone rang. Inspector Sean Lavin of Kildare Garda station introduced himself. He sounded hesitant. He informed me that he had uncovered a file regarding sexual abuse which occurred in 1977. I confirmed it was my statement, and then he dropped the bombshell,
DO YOU WANT TO PRESS CHARGES?
I asked him if I could take some time to consider it and get back to him.
Phil and I discussed the ramifications for me personally, for us as a couple, for my family, and if the changes it would bring would be of benefit to anyone. We talked and talked and the same word kept emerging.
Truth.
I called him back and said I was willing to pursue it. So in 2003 the ball started rolling again. The floodgates of emotion opened wider and deeper than ever. I was finding it more difficult than ever to cope with triggers and flashbacks, anger, resentment, and confusion. Our lives were affected much more than imagined and it was then we decided that counselling was my best option.
Summer 2003 I started attending one to one person centered therapy sessions and initially I found it was making no difference. Over time we could both see some important changes but little did I realise the counselling would continue for at least 10 years.
Monday, 26 January 1987
Arrested for extortion.
I had been attending Dr Noel Walshe in St Vincents Hospital. He was a psychiatrist and was treating me for the affects of sexual abuse. I had been informed that the treatment could be lengthy.
My mother and I decided that it would be morally right for Newbridge College to foot the bill. I told them if they did not acknowledge what had happened to me 10 years earlier then I would go to the Sunday World newspaper and tell my story.
I contacted the College and arranged a meeting with the Prior which was cordial. We arranged a second meeting. I arrived at the College and as I got out of the car I was surrounded by several Garda and arrested for extortion.
I was taken to Newbridge Garda station, where, after questioning I made my first formal statement about the abuse. I was barred from making any contact with Newbridge College or the Dominican order ever again.
The Garda drove me home to my parents where they in turn verified my statement to be true.
I was now a criminal and it's on record. Not my finest hour but it just increased my anger and bitterness towards Church and State. I knew I was telling the truth but no-one wanted to hear it.
I never heard another word from the Gardai until 2003.
No crime number. No victim support. No acknowledgement of wrongdoing.
Where was my file for 16 years?
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