Courts / Westmeath / Report
Victim tells court that repeated sexual abuse by father was "defining experience" in her life
Summary
Rita Broderick, aged 46, gave a victim impact statement at the Central Criminal Court after her father James Broderick, aged 77, pleaded guilty to three rapes and three indecent assaults that occurred in their Athlone home between January 1983 and September 1984. She described her childhood as a "war zone" and said the repeated abuse began when she was four in Manchester, continued after the family moved to Athlone when she was 13, and ended when she was 15 after she fled the house. Broderick said the abuse forced her to disassociate, leading to Dissociative Identity Disorder, and that she now lives in America, has suffered an eating disorder, hip dysplasia and has been unable to have children. She also noted that her brother and sister endured emotional abuse. The judge praised her statement and noted the damage left by her father. The case is pending sentencing.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Victim tells court that repeated sexual abuse by father was "defining experience" in her life. Charges or matters: sample charges which included three rapes and three indecent assaults in the family home in Athlone on dates between January 1983 and September 1984. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 1983 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 1984 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 2011 Other
- November 2 Adjournment
- 1982 to 1984 Incident
- 2015-10-19 Publication
Why: She said she was unable to have children, had had an eating disorder and had problems walking because of hip dysplasia. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: sample charges which included three rapes and three indecent assaults in the family home in Athlone on dates between January 1983 and September 1984 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He was remanded in custody until November 2, next when Mr Justice Tony Hunt will pass sentence.; He was remanded in custody until November 2, next when Mr Justice Tony Hunt will pass sentence.
Places mentioned
- Lyster Street
- Athlone
- Central Criminal Court
- Broderick arrived at Athlone Garda Station
- Athlone
Topics
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