Brave Abuse Survivor Fiona Doyle Wants To Bring Charges Against Her Mother

Abuse survivor Fiona Doyle, who spent 20 years fighting to have her father jailed, is pressing prosecutors to bring charges against her mother.

The Irish Independent reports that Ms Doyle has said she wants further action to be taken now that the Director of Public Prosecutions is to appeal the leniency of the sentence handed down to her father Patrick O’Brien.

Seventy-two-year-old Patrick O’Brien was sentenced to 12  years in jail with nine suspended after he pleaded guilty to raping and indecently assaulting his daughter throughout her childhood.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has informed Ms Doyle that they now plan to appeal the ruling to increase her father’s sentence.

“I have found the prospect of my father having to serve only 18 months, if that, of the three-year term that was imposed both upsetting and distressing,” said Ms Doyle.

It is believed that O’Brien abused his daughter once a week from the time she turned eight years old. Ms Doyle made a complaint about the abuse to the gardai and to health workers 20 years ago. However, her mother, Breda, stood by her father throughout the garda investigation and court case.

Shockingly, after Mr O’Brien was jailed, Fiona’s mother told her that her parents wanted nothing to do with her.

Brave Fiona Doyle wants further action to be taken in the case of her father

Prosecutors informed Ms Doyle yesterday that they have plans to launch an appeal to have the sentence against her father increased.

“I will now put my faith in the justice system once again in the hope that my father receives a sentence that better reflects the gravity of the crime,” said Ms Doyle.

It is understood that there may be difficulties bringing charges of reckless endangerment or failure to safeguard a child against Fiona’s mother Breda because the current legislation is not retrospective.

“People in this country have shown that they want offenders, particularly in cases of prolongued sexual abuse, to receive sentences that are in keeping with the seriousness of the crime,” said Ms Doyle, in a statement.

“Our children need to be protected and abusers need to know they will be held accountable and will be subjected to the full force of the law,” she added.