Don’t be afraid to come forward, says abuse victim

Simone Flanagan, who was abused by her father over a four-year period when she was a child, yesterday encouraged other victims to report abuse.

“Don’t be afraid to come forward,” the 22-year-old said outside Clonmel courthouse after her father Thomas Ryan, 58, was given a five-year prison sentence for 10 counts of sexual assault.

“There’s always support there, no matter where they are, be it male or female it doesn’t matter, there’s always support there.”