A domestic abuse victim has spoken of how she feels “entirely let down” by the judicial system after her abuser was ordered to pay just £1,000 in fines.
Perpetrator, Padraig O’Callaghan of Monog Road, Crossmaglen appeared in Newry Magistrates’ Court on Friday, October 11, where he was convicted of criminal damage, common assault and persistent improper use of a communications device.
The 33-year-old was also convicted for breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), whereby “without reasonable excuse entered into a relationship with a female without prior verifiable disclosure of offending history by your Designated Risk Manager”.
O’Callaghan was previously convicted of rape in 2012 and handed a seven-year custodial sentence.
He was issued with a £250 fine for each of the four convictions.
O’Callaghan pleaded guilty to being in breach of the SOPO but denied all other charges. He also faced charges of stalking, two counts of common assault and failure to comply with notification requirements, however, he was found not guilty on those.
After spending approximately 11 months in a women’s aid sanctuary, being placed on social services’ ‘high-risk register’ and subsequently losing full-time custody of her son, the victim spoke to Armagh I about how she feels “entirely let down” by the judicial system.
Speaking to the charge of misuse of a communication device, she said: “He tortured me. I was constantly bombarded with fake Snapchats, phone calls from other phones and unknown numbers.
“They listed them in court. He was ringing and texting…it was constant.
“He is a predator by definition. He was convicted of raping a girl and sentenced to seven years.
“It’s no deterrent whatsoever. Monetary fines is not an appropriate sentence.”
The young mother is now slowly returning to a life she left behind for almost a year. Understandably, she’s apprehensive at the thought.
She added: “I want people who think I disappeared off the face of the earth to know what was happening. When people are gossiping and speculating and stuff, that they might go and check up on someone, and ask if they are ok rather than talking or speculating.
“It’s not so simple to get away or break away from someone when they think they own you, you’re their obsession.”
She says she feels as though she has been left rebuilding her entire life – paying what she regards as a “very steep price” in losing that time with her son.
The process as a whole has caused her to reflect on whether or not she would have pressed charges if she had known the potential outcome.
“I tried not to press charges,” she said. “They kept saying that there would be something at the end but that wasn’t the reality.
“The detective kept saying I was strong, that I was a strong person, and with what I was going through, to keep going and that I was nearly there.
“Deep down I knew that if I didn’t do it might continue and my wee boy was going to get caught in it. I didn’t think I was safe anymore.
“I think I’m just feeling very let down by the system,” she continued. “It’s been a huge level of sacrifice and destruction and the sentence was very lenient.
“Women are constantly told to come forward and to speak up, and when they do, they are totally let down by a system, which is broken.
“I think I find it the hardest that he got such a light sentence; it feels like he got away with it, in my eyes. It has impacted my whole family and I feel like we are constantly looking over our shoulders. It’s frustrating.
“There’s a restraining order now so that will help, but I have to start moving on and living my life again but it won’t be easy.
“I’m just kind of numb.”
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, reach out to Women’s Aid Newry Armagh and Down for help. Domestic abuse is wrong and is a serious crime. Get in touch with their support team who will listen, support and guide you in the way forward.
