Leona O'Callaghan tells her rapist - "Let me be clear, you did not win"

[MotherForkinShirtBalls]

I've never heard of Leona O'Callaghan before today, but her victim impact statement is printed in today's Irish Times. What an incredibly brave woman, not only to have survived what this disgusting man did to her, and have come through her immense pain, but to have seen through the trial and spoken out. In Ireland rape claimants are entitled to anonymity but must waive it for their convicted rapist to be named. Seventeen years doesn't seem long enough for what he did.

Strength and respect to you Leona, and your family

Women’s s

Women’s strength never ceases to amaze me.

Glad he has been imprisoned for a long time.

I wish Leona peace

Peace to Leona, who is a very brave woman.

The woman has to waive anonymity for convicted sex offenders to be named?

Don't the public have a right to know the names of men convicted of these crimes?

So say none of warboys victims waived their anonymity, the public would not know his name nor what he looks like, as an example... is that right?

That can't be right, surely?

Peter Tatchell would do well to read that harrowing account, it might inform his views on child abuse.

Nothingontellyagain, I'm not sure of the ons and outs of it, but my understanding is that in a possibly small, rural area, naming the convicted would out the victim and her (or his) right to anonymity is the priority.

What a brave woman, standing up in court and giving that brutally raw account. Rapists are scum.

What an amazing woman, so brave and strong for giving such a raw and honest account. It will also give hope to a lot of younger people.

The real me is warm and caring but you made me a fighter, you gave me anger and hatred and sadness and fear and isolation and shame and guilt and loneliness, today I give this back as it belongs with you.

This gave me goosebumps, Im glad she’s found her closure and I think a lot of abuse victims will relate to this.

What a raw and powerful statement.
A courageous woman.

Yes the non publication of a convicted rapist/abusers name is to protect the victims. Particularly necessary in the case of family or other close ties.

She found her voice and its powerful.

I hope he quailed with shame at every word.

Oh Leona you brave, brave soul. The courage you have gathered is awe-inspiring and I’m glad you got justice

But the way they described it in the article didn't make it sound like it was to protect the victim,
Which I understand
But more like it's usual for offender not to be named unless victim agrees to be named too
Which is different
It doesn't say his name was anon to protect her
But that she HAD to be not anon in order to name him

Are there some different rules

Ah- yes there are differences summed up in this article www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwji7qbcouHeAhXMAsAKHS_3BVkQzPwBegQIARAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fnews%2Fcrime-and-law%2Funtangling-the-vexed-question-of-anonymity-in-sex-cases-1.1708235&psig=AOvVaw3dRuS4r9SMcjLBLkZGWZpM&ust=1542744893895346

I'm not Irish so wasn't aware of this.

"An analysis of data from 2011 to present shows that 59 per cent of those convicted of sex crimes in the Central Criminal Court are not named in the media after conviction"

Sorry for tangent that just jumped out at me and feel I understand better now

Her statement is absolutely devastating.

Peace, light and love, Leona.

Wow! What a woman. Can't quite express my admiration for her. Wow!

What an inspiring lady you are Leona.

I hope you stumble across this thread at some point and see the admiration.
I cannot imagine the guts it took to stand in court and make that statement.

If you know the Leonard Cohen song, about
"There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in"
then you are a beacon, a lighthouse.

Is she the woman who had her underwear presented to the court? To prove how, I dunno, she was asking for it or something? The underwear the fucker wouldn't have actually seen until he, you know, started to rape her?

She's the one we'll talk about decades from now.

I believe her x

No, ASAS, that was a different case, in Cork I think, where the defendant was found not guilty. It was a disgusting action by the defence barrister.