Paedophile victim says children must be protected
The woman urged the local people to do whatever they felt was necessary to protect their children from a man she described as “devious” but “charming”.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Joe Duffy show, Amanda rejected an apology from O’Rourke to his victims, which he gave to the Sunday World, describing it as a “slap in the face” to victims.
The Sunday World revealed at the weekend that O’Rourke, released from prison on March 1, was living in Baltinglass.
It said the 59-year-old was going by the name of ‘Derek’ or ‘Diarmuid’, attended daily mass and sold oil paintings of Christ and the Virgin Mary.
O’Rourke was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 1998, seven years in 2001 and 10 years in 2005 for over 30 sample rape and sexual assault charges relating to a dozen young swimmers he coached between the 1970s and 1990s.
The sentences ran together, with meant a total of 12 years. With standard remission, he was out in nine years. O’Rourke never apologised to victims in court and did not undergo treatment in prison.
“I would fear for kids around that area and anywhere Derry O’Rourke goes,” said Amanda. “He’s devious and he’s very charming as well, you could be taken in very easily by him.”
When confronted by the Sunday World, O’Rourke read from a statement: “I would like to use this opportunity to say that I am deeply sorry for the hurt and pain that I have caused to others.
“Having recently completed my jail sentence, this may be a particularly difficult time for those who have suffered because of my actions. Out of respect for them, I will not be making any further comment.”
Reacting, Amanda said: “I know what he’s like, I don’t accept it’s an apology, I think it’s a slap in the face, I just don’t accept it, I can’t, my instinct, my gut is ‘No’, it’s not enough. That’s something he sat down and made up. He had every opportunity in court to do this, to make an apology, and he didn’t.”
She had this message to the people of Baltinglass: “If their gut instinct is to do whatever they have to do, I’d say do it.
“If they have to protect their kids, they need to protect them, whatever they have to do.
Local councillor Thomas Cullen said people were “outraged” and that he had spoken to gardaí about it. “I was given assurances by senior gardaí that they were well aware what was happening and were keeping the situation closely monitored.”
O’Rourke is on the Sex Offenders Register and must inform gardaí of his address and any changes to it.
Gardaí in Baltinglass declined to comment.
