Two survivors of sexual abuse say they spoke out to protect children

Two survivors of childhood sexual abuse have told the Central Criminal Court how they spoke out to protect children and encourage others to come forward.

The men described how they were abused by Patrick Killally (45) while one of them was aged between six and nine years old and the second boy was aged between 12 and 14 years old.

One of the men described how he hoped speaking out would “save more kids from this paedophile and may give others the courage to come out”.

The second man told Mr Justice Paul Burns: “I can’t let any child go through this again.”

Killally was a teenager when he sexually assaulted the first child and an adult when he began two years of serious sexual abuse against the second boy.

Killally, of Killane Drive, Edenderry, Co Offaly, was convicted by a jury following a trial in Mullingar earlier this year of three counts of sexual assault of the first boy on a date unknown between 1992 and 1996.

He was convicted of 40 counts of sexual assault, attempted anal rape, oral rape and anal rape of another boy over two years between 2005 and 2007.

The court heard Killally, who has no previous convictions, does not accept the verdicts of the jury.

One of the men, who was seriously abused by Killally over two years, told the court in his victim impact statement that he had lived with a weight upon his shoulders for 18 years.

He told the court how beginning in 2005 a cloud came over his life, which increased in weight to become a wall and a burden. He said as a young adolescent all he had wanted to do was tell, but that his trust in people weakened and he feared people sneering or calling him names.

The man said at one point his dignity and pride was so bruised and his trust so broken, he felt suicide was the only option. His plan failed but he was still too afraid to speak out.

He described how after many failed relationships he met his wife and she became his “rock.” He said memories came flooding back when he had his own family, but this time suicide was not an option, as he had so much to live for and he felt the need to protect children.

He described giving a statement to Det Gda Bradley at Edenderry Garda Station which had been the first time to tell his story and get it off his chest. He said in May 2023, at the end of Killally’s trial, the wall around him began to crumble and the weight lifted off his shoulders.

“I don’t have to keep a secret any more,” he said, adding he now knew other children were safe.

He said he was putting his trust and belief into the justice system to make life better and safer.

The other man who was sexually assaulted by Killally as a child described how he had suffered throughout his life with anger issues and little care for his wellbeing.

He said he carried the scars of the abuse but would not let it define him. He outlined how the abuse continues to affect his relationships, his family and his efforts to keep his own children safe.

The man said he hoped coming forward would “save more kids from this paedophile and may give others the courage to come out.”

Detective Garda Joseph Bradley told Desmond Dockery SC, prosecuting, that the first boy was sexually abused on one occasion when he aged between six and nine years old. Killally was aged between 14 and 18 years old at the time of this incident.

The second boy was seriously abused over two years involving oral and anal rape on a regular basis by Killaly while he was aged between 12 and 14 years old. Killaly was aged 27 to 30 years old during this offending.

The court heard both boys were warned by Killally not to tell what was happening to them.

Mr Dockery said the Direction of Public Prosecutions' view was that the rape case was at the uppermost of the more serious category, indicating a headline sentence of ten to 15 years before mitigation.

Colm Smyth SC, defending, told the court Killally maintains his innocence and submitted he had led a blameless life in the intervening years. He handed up a number of testimonials and a medical report.

Mr Justice Burns remanded Killally in custody and adjourned sentencing until July 10.