“I want to focus on changing lives.”
Charlene Masterson, who recently waived her right to anonymity, has said that she will campaign for better awareness and support for survivors of sexual abuse in Ireland.
Ms Masterson’s father was sentenced to 17 years in jail last week at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty to six counts of rape, sexual assault and incest.
The abuse took place between March 2007 and June 2014.
Charlene said that she waived her right to anonymity to encourage others to report their abuse.
Recently, Ms Materson told Claire Byrne that she has no regrets in her decision to come forward, and plans to campaign to tackle the “massive stigma” surrounding sexual abuse in Ireland.
Charlene said that there needs to be a message developed to help people identify the signs of sexual abuse in others.
She told Claire Byrne that now she wants to use her experience to help other survivors.
“I want to focus on changing lives,” she said.
She explained that she took seven years after the ordeal to “process” what she experienced.
“I’m out the other side now,” she said. “The work I want to do now is the next step.”
Charlene told the broadcaster that she has been doing online courses on domestic violence awareness. She noted that this information should be made more accessible and applicable to the Irish public.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, support is available. Women’s Aid can be reached on 1800 341 900 at any time 7 days a week. The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre can be reached on 1800 77 8888.
