'It’s about reclaiming our lives': Survivor launches charity to support rape victims

Ciara Mangan: 'Something was missing, so I created Beyond Surviving and that’s the bridge that is not there. This is the first hub of its kind in Ireland.' File picture: Collins Courts

A woman who helped put her rapist behind bars has set up a new survivor-led charity because of the “lonely struggle” she faced in the aftermath of her case.

Ciara Mangan waived her right to anonymity after Shane Noonan from Castlebar, Co Mayo, pleaded guilty in 2023 at the Central Criminal Court to raping her. He was sentenced to eight years in jail, with the final year suspended.

Ms Mangan said the struggles she faced in seeking justice did not end in 2023 and her suffering led to the launch of a new website and charity aimed at supporting those who have walked the same path as her.

Beyond Surviving went live on Monday and Ms Mangan has spent the time since her attacker’s conviction securing a charitable status to support her work.

“It was born from when my heart ached to meet survivors after the court case,” she said. “We are a survivor-led hub dedicated to connecting with one another and to help with healing and support.

“It’s a charity for survivors of domestic and sexual violence and it’s about reclaiming our lives.” 

The young woman, who grew up beside her attacker, first believed when he went to prison that her healing would begin.

“But that’s just not the case at all,” she said. “It’s an incredibly lonely journey and I wanted to get beyond surviving.

I found myself in complete limbo, I was not in a crisis anymore, that part was over. I found I was so lost; you have no idea who you are, what even is healing? It’s like a buzzword, so where do we even start?

“As much as people want to understand what it’s like to go through something like this, unless you’ve gone through it yourself, you really don’t know."

She said a huge question for her was what to do now.

“Something was missing, so I created Beyond Surviving and that’s the bridge that is not there. This is the first hub of its kind in Ireland."

Rape and sexual assault cases in Ireland are held in-camera — meaning the complainant and defendant cannot be identified. The case is also not open to the public.

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

If a complainant is successful in securing a conviction, they are entitled to publicly name their attacker and themselves or name their attacker only while keeping their own identity private. Ciara Mangan named her attacker and waived her own right to anonymity.

“Survivors shouldn’t have to waive their anonymity and go public to meet others,” she said. “The site has got great feedback so far; we want to meet other survivors safely."

Ms Mangan, who is a Life Coach, will be running empowerment workshops, and resilience building with fellow survivors.