‘The €70,000 would never give my niece back what he took’
She said the Gray family did not deserve the sum as they were aware of their nephew’s background as a convicted rapist when they gave him shelter.
The aunt also said newspapers were right to highlight where O’Donoghue was living when he moved into the Gray family home in Ballybunion, Co Kerry.
“They knew he was a rapist and a bad one and (subsequently) he has gone out and raped again,” the aunt told RTÉ Radio’s Liveline show yesterday.
“I want to know who is living next door to me. People have every right to know he is a rapist.”
She said she did not want to show any disrespect to the Gray family but insisted the law was wrong in awarding them the sum.
“The €70,000 would never give my niece back what he took from her, never. I can’t understand how the law can grant that (money).”
She said her niece would remain haunted by what O’Donoghue did to her and called for him to stay in jail for the rest of his life.
Listeners to Liveline heard that after O’Donoghue was released from jail for raping the caller’s niece he went on to commit another rape and was now back in prison.
“You can’t let the likes of that be walking around,” she said.
“He should be put away permanently. That’s the only solution to this problem because the people he has hurt will never heal. No amount of money will ever help them heal.
“The money they (the Grays) were given should go to the Rape Crisis Centre for the victims who have to go there after he has finished with them.”
She asked what would be happening to O’Donoghue once he left prison again.
“These people (the Grays) will obviously not be able to take him back because they will be driven out their home.
“There’s no alternative for him other than to be put away for the rest of his life.”
She said in contrast to the €70,000 court award to the Grays, her niece had little help from the criminal justice system in the way of counselling or support.
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