The following statement was written by my sister, Mary and read to the assembled media outside Belfast Court today, July 5th, 2013 by my brother Kevin after Briege McLaughlin was sentenced for a number of terrible crimes against Mary between 1979 and 1980. A very brave woman, courageous sister and dedicated mother.
On Tuesday of this week, Briege again appeared in Court to be sentenced for badly abusing me. In mitigation, her Barrister attempted to excuse her mistreatment of me to the Judge. Claiming that the level of abuse I endured was at the lower-end of the scale. When removed from Briege McLaughlin in October, 1980, I was examined by Social Services, evidence was recorded by Medical Doctors that I had sustained over 20 bruises at her evil hands. That were clearly not misdemeanors as stated by her Defence team. To add further insult, Briege's Lawyer also used the sudden death of my devoted mother in 1977, imprisonment of our dedicated father in 1979 and how she was meant to fill the shoes of our mum. In addition, Briege sought sympathy from the Court because her offences had been widely criticised in the Media and by the Ardoyne community.
In response, despite five years of a Police investigation, Courts and her removal from Sinn Fein as an elected Councillor. Briege has yet to apologise for her brutality towards me. Since 1979, she has demonised me as a victim through a tangled web of blatant lies, deception and attempts to manipulate the Criminal Justice system in her favour. Briege McLaughlin has been exposed for the cruel child-abuser that she is. My lengthy struggle for justice is finally at an end and I intend to return to a private life and rebuild our lives. After taking sometime out, I intend to do my best to help other victims to find their true voice. Finally, I'd like to pay tribute to my mother's family particularly my grandmother. My four children, brothers and sister-in-law for all their support for the past 34 years. At long last I can rest in the knowledge that the truth is out there for all to see"!
Mary Meehan.
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| Mary Meehan |
"Today, the crimes committed by Briege McLaughlin have finally caught up with her. Between 1979 and 1980, she terrorised and brutalised me as a ten year-old child. The substantial evidence of which is there for all to see. In early June, she pleaded guilty in Court, in a sinister manner to escape a number of sexual assault charges. Despite her pleas of guilt, Briege displayed nothing but contempt for the decades of suffering inflicted upon me. Walking from the Dock, she sinisterly smirked at me and my family who were present to support me. Within hours, Briege instructed her Solicitor to threaten respected Media organisations with legal action. If Journalists published graphic details submitted by my legal team to the Court.
On Tuesday of this week, Briege again appeared in Court to be sentenced for badly abusing me. In mitigation, her Barrister attempted to excuse her mistreatment of me to the Judge. Claiming that the level of abuse I endured was at the lower-end of the scale. When removed from Briege McLaughlin in October, 1980, I was examined by Social Services, evidence was recorded by Medical Doctors that I had sustained over 20 bruises at her evil hands. That were clearly not misdemeanors as stated by her Defence team. To add further insult, Briege's Lawyer also used the sudden death of my devoted mother in 1977, imprisonment of our dedicated father in 1979 and how she was meant to fill the shoes of our mum. In addition, Briege sought sympathy from the Court because her offences had been widely criticised in the Media and by the Ardoyne community.
In response, despite five years of a Police investigation, Courts and her removal from Sinn Fein as an elected Councillor. Briege has yet to apologise for her brutality towards me. Since 1979, she has demonised me as a victim through a tangled web of blatant lies, deception and attempts to manipulate the Criminal Justice system in her favour. Briege McLaughlin has been exposed for the cruel child-abuser that she is. My lengthy struggle for justice is finally at an end and I intend to return to a private life and rebuild our lives. After taking sometime out, I intend to do my best to help other victims to find their true voice. Finally, I'd like to pay tribute to my mother's family particularly my grandmother. My four children, brothers and sister-in-law for all their support for the past 34 years. At long last I can rest in the knowledge that the truth is out there for all to see"!
Mary Meehan.