'I sent my father to prison, I need to see this through': Rape survivor Fiona Doyle to attend father's cremation

Fiona Doyle made international headlines in 2013 when she waived her right to anonymity after her father pleaded guilty to 16 counts of rape and indecent assault. Picture: Moya Nolan

Rape survivor Fiona Doyle said she plans to attend her father’s cremation this afternoon despite the years of abuse she suffered at his hands.

Patrick O’Brien, 83, died on Wednesday at a nursing home he had been living in for the past number of years.

Fiona, 57, from Co. Wicklow made international headlines in 2013 when she waived her right to anonymity after her father pleaded guilty to 16 counts of rape and indecent assault.

He had repeatedly raped her for nearly ten years of her childhood and had allowed two other men to rape and sexually assault her also.

Mr O’Brien was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2013 and on appeal was given nine years but served six due to his age and ill health.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Fiona said she has woken up for the first time in decades “feeling free”.

“I’m going to the cremation today” Fiona said. “I am just getting myself ready now.

“Today is a beautiful bright sunny morning and I have had very little sleep the past few days. I have had to deal with a lot this week and had to work out my emotions and how I feel.

“But shockingly I’m feeling free and happy. Despite the monsters in my life the last one goes today, it’s a good day to be alive and not breathe the same air as him.

“He had been sick for years I did not see him laid out in the coffin, but I am going to the cremation, maybe it was best not to see him in the coffin I don’t want that image in my head”.

Patrick O’Brien, 83, died on Wednesday at a nursing home he had been living in for the past number of years. Pictures: Collins Courts.

Fiona said she wanted people to know she is not going to her father’s funeral to pay her respects.

“He was my dad” she said “I’m going because a little girl did love her dad once. I need to see him go and leave this earth.

“I need other people in my position and families to know about family-related abuse and there is so many of me out there. I will always encourage people to come forward.

“I sent my father to prison for what he did so I need to see this through”.

Patrick O’Brien had suffered ill health for several years including respiratory problems and was on oxygen.

At his hearing, the late Justice Paul Carney said it was “one of the worst” rape cases to ever come before him.

At the time he didn’t jail O’Brien because of his age (74) and ailing health.

However, after a major public backlash he revoked his bail a few days later and Justice Carney expressed his “profound regret” to Fiona Doyle.

The Director of Public Prosecutions later appealed the sentencing, and Mr Justice Ryan agreed with the 12 years, but suspended three instead of the nine years that was ordered in the original judgement. His health deteriorated and he spent six years in jail before being moved to a nursing home.

Fiona told the Irish Examiner recently that she visited her father in the nursing home and told him she would “sit with him” when the time came for him to die.

She said, “He said he was sorry for all he had done to me, and I told him I forgave him, but I was boiling inside. I needed to see him, that might sound strange to people but I needed to go and give the pain back to him.

“He will be cremated this morning and I knew it would be quick. But today I only feel freedom”.

During her case at the Dublin criminal courts, Fiona said her father had been sexually abusing her for as long as she could remember.

The assaults took place at their family home in Dún Laoghaire, south Dublin, from 1973 to 1982 when Fiona was a child.

Her mother Bridget Breda O’Brien was due to be charged for not protecting Fiona during the abuse however died before facing the courts.

This morning Fiona posted an open letter to her father on social media.