“I didn’t have a father to protect me from abuse and my mother facilitated it. I was on my own”
Sexual abuse survivor, Sheila Ryan
Report by Andrew Carey
A MOTHER-of-two has recalled the darkest days of her life when she contemplated suicide after repeated sexual abused by her controlling father over an eight year period.
Oliver Haskett (61) formerly of Foynes, Kilcornan and Adare, but now with an address in Westbury, Corbally, Co Clare, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of indecent assault on his daughter, Sheila Ryan, between January 1988 and December 31, 1990 and to a further 20 counts of sexual assault between January 1991 and December 1995.
Limerick Circuit Court heard how he abused his daughter in empty bedrooms of their guesthouse in Adare.
Prosecuting counsel Michael Collins said matters came to light when Mr Haskett wrote a letter to his daughter apologising for the years of abuse.
In her victim impact statement, Sheila Ryan said she was suicidal and abused alcohol because she wanted to black out.
“My father told my friends and cousins not to behave like me, but I now know the shame I felt was not my fault.”
She lived in an atmosphere of correction and control by her father who was the dominant figure in the house.
The victim, who is now aged 36, waived her right to anonymity and said the abuse started when she was five. She was beaten over the mispronunciation of words and after being beaten, was brought to a bedroom where inappropriate behaviour took place.
Her father took photographs of her when she was naked. Holiday pictures were also taken between 1985 and 1986 when she was paddling in a stream and encouraged to take her clothes off to be photographed.
A “bold list” was kept by her mother and this was then given to Haskett in the evening for him to administer punishment.
On Saturdays, Sheila recalled how he would call her to his bedroom where he would get her to touch his penis and he would touch her. His penis was always erect during the abuse.
“I trusted him. I depended on my parents. I needed them but there was no escape from the element of fear”.
When she was 14 years old, her father would “French kiss” her, undress her and touch her.
In 1991, the family had a bed and breakfast in Adare and her relationship with her parents deteriorated dramatically.
When she was 16, her father undressed her and touched her breasts in an empty single room in the bed and breakfast house. A year later, he rubbed his erect penis against her naked body and vagina. He touched her breasts and kissed her.
Her father and mother divorced in 2005 and the entire proceeds from the sale of an investment property Haskett had was given to her.
Defence counsel Pat Barriscale said that this was by way of full and frank admissions for his wrong doing.
She knew she was in danger and was “very frightened”.
“When I left home, I finally got to separate myself from my family experience which was not healthy”.
She underwent counselling after she “lost her childhood”.
“I didn’t have a father to protect me from abuse and my mother facilitated it. I was on my own”.
She blamed herself for the abuse and suffered from depression, eating disorders and alcohol abuse. She had difficulties with relationships and “was ashamed and sick of having this terrible secret. They were some of my darkest days”.
“I was confused, alone and isolated but I now know the shame was not my fault”.
Judge Carroll Moran was told that the accused man was also “sexualised from a very early age”.
The Granada Institute deemed Haskett to be of a moderate risk to reoffend but added that that trajectory of risk should go downward if he maintained his treatment on a long-term basis. The Institute also alerted the HSE when he moved to Clare.
Stating that he had quite a lot to consider in relation to the case, Judge Moran adjourned the case and remanded Haskett in custody until October 24 for sentencing, ordering that his name be put on the Register for Sex Offenders with the period to be determined at the next hearing.
