Wexford sex predator victims describe how they blamed themselves for the attacks

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The fear that pedophile PJ OHara instilled in his victims has been on record as his three victims provided victim impact statements to Wexford Circuit Court.

he statement provided by the girl (now a married woman in her 40s) repeatedly assaulted was read by Garda investigator Martin Kehoe.

She wrote how, in the four decades since the abuse began, she has felt scared, dirty and alone as well as ashamed.

She suppressed her emotions, convinced that no one would believe her if she revealed what had happened.

It wasn’t until more recently that she realized she wasn’t wrong.

She added that she would like her tormentor to be named in the media but wished to remain anonymous.

The second victim read his statement in person on the witness stand.

OHara inserted her fingers into her vagina when she was alone with him.

Those few minutes changed my whole life, she said, citing far-reaching and detrimental effects.

He took so much and defiled. After all the therapy it is still there in the cells of my body.

One consequence was that after being raped by the defendant, it took her a long time to learn to appreciate intimacy, even with her own children.

She revealed that she was in her twenties, planning to kill herself and overdose.

Instead, she had the good sense to see her doctor who diagnosed her with clinical depression and referred her to the Rape Crisis Centre.

Although grateful for the guilty verdict in her case, she feared the assailant would forever remain on her mind.

The third woman took an oath to tell how she will never forget the terror she experienced at the hands of the man in the dock.

Only twelve years old at the time, she blamed herself for what had happened.

She also became obsessed with worrying about OHara coming to her house, making sure to draw the curtains in the bedroom tightly lest he watch.

She described how, although all the cracks were covered, she sometimes changed behind a wardrobe to make sure she couldn’t be seen from the outside.

Asked by Garda about this assault, the accused told them that he did not recall such a thing happening.

The complainant pointed out that she did not have the luxury of being able to forget.

All three women were let go by Judge Martin Nolan for telling their stories and testifying, which resulted in PJ OHara being sent to prison for eight years.

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