This article is from page 4 of the 2006-11-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
FINE Gael TD, Pat Breen has apologised to a second victim of sex offender Joseph Nugent for the offence caused by tabling a Dáil question inquiring into Nugent’s eligibility for early release.
The man, in his 30s, confirmed that the TD apologised in a telephone conversation between the two, in response to the man contacting Deputy Breen’s constituency office to complain about the Dáil question being tabled.
He said that the apology from Deputy Breen “is a start”.
“He apologised for the offence caused by asking the question and said that the whole thing had been blown out of all proportion. He said that if there was anything he could do, to give him a call; that he would help out in any way,” the man told The Clare People.
“I’m happy that he did apologise. I felt very hurt over the question being asked. If the paedophile was released, it would have been a pure joke because he is a danger to all kids and society.
“With the publicity around the case, I didn’t know if I was coming or going last week. I was not myself because it does upset you.”
The man that Deputy Breen apologised to is one of two victims found to have been abused by Nugent, who was sentenced to six years in jail in 2002 and 2004.
Deputy Breen met with the second victim on Sunday in Doonbeg.
Nugent was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment at Kilrush Circuit Court in November 2004 on one count of buggery and one count of indecent assault. The sentence was backdated to run concurrently with the sentence that he received in 2002.
The man said that Nugent had never apologised.
“There has been no apology. He doesn’t feel sorry for what he did. I will never forgive that paedophile for what he did.”
The man said that he was first assaulted by Nugent when he was aged eight and the abuse continued until he was 15.
He said that after Nugent was questioned by gardaí in relation to a separate complaint from a male victim, Nugent was asked did he abuse anyone else and he named the man.
“I’m angry that the paedophile didn’t receive any extra time in jail over the abuse he carried out on me. The sentences ran concurrently.
“I’m also angry that there has not been one iota of remorse or even an acknowledgement of what he did.
“You could see in court on the day that he didn’t give two fecks and was only laughin’.
“My name has been slandered in certain ways over this case. I came forward after the gardaí asked me to give a statement and when I heard that the paedophile made an attempt to abuse another person.
“Certain people criticised me for going forward and telling of the abuse and saying that I should have said nothing.
“If everyone had their attitude, no paedophile would be jailed. What would they do if it was their child, brother or sister being abused?
“I’m also very mad that there has been no compensation as there are still legal and psychiatric costs and it is wrong that I would have to pay that and I won’t be paying it.
“I lost a lot of friends over it and if I knew all of this, maybe I would have been better off saying nothing and just living with it.”
He added, “The counselling has been very good.
“I’m a hardworking, honest man and I would help out anyone in any way I can, but if I am hurt I don’t forgive.”