There were calls for an independent investigation to be launched today after the conviction of a vile sex beast for the rape of his seven daughters and sister.
James O’Reilly, 75, was jailed on Monday for 20 years for the repeated rape and sexual abuse of his younger sister and seven daughters over a 23-year period.
The evil dad subjected the young girls to “horrific” sexual abuse, as well as physical beatings, starvation and degradation.
Helen O’Donoghue, the daughter of one of the victims, read a statement on their behalf outside the Central Criminal Court on Monday.
The family asked why the authorities did not intervene sooner.
Ms O’Donogue said: “How could schools, social workers, medical professionals and others who have a so called duty of care turn their back time after time as the evidence was hitting them in the face.”
Family support worker Jack Griffin of the Tipperary Rural Travellers Project today said the group supports the victims' call for an independent investigation.
Mr Griffin said he believed many Travellers don’t engage with State services because of what he claimed is the discrimination and racism to which they are subjected.
He told RTE Radio One’s Morning Ireland: “I think it was clear that the level of abuse was horrific over two decades so I think we really need to acknowledge and commend their dignity, their strength and their courage.
“Even listening to their statement was powerful and even being able to come out of court and deliver that showed amazing courage.”
Mr Griffin said the country relies on social care workers, schools and GPs to be the ‘eyes and ears of the State’ when it comes to sexual abuse.
He added: “There are a number of agencies that are there and are available.
“What we’re looking at here is a systems failure in terms of this family and these eight women.
“One of the things that the Tipperary Rural Project is asking for is that there will be a review of this and I think an independent review might be an opportunity to look at what actually happened here.”
The family and the ongoing sexual abuse occurred from 1977 until 2000 but no State authorities or social service said there were aware of the case.
Sharon O’Halloran, the CEO of SAFE Ireland, said: “This was a most barbaric and brutal case of coercive control and what we do know about coercive control is people do know about it.
“So there are failures here, there are State failures and there’s system failures and all of this needs to be looked at.
“And I think questions need to be answered by all of us."
Ms O’Halloran said she has ‘no doubt’ that because the O’Reilly’s were a Traveller family that made the situation even worse.
She added: “I have no doubt that it is because we live in a racist society."
O’Reilly of Killeens, Ballynonty, Thurles, Co Tipperary pleaded not guilty to 81 counts of rape and sexual abuse.
Last December, after a five week trial, a jury convicted him of 58 counts of rape and nine counts of sexual assault.
O’Reilly’s rape of one daughter caused her to become pregnant in late 1988. He continued to rape her during the pregnancy.
At the time O’Reilly told his daughter to allege she had been raped by another man.
He continued abusing her and only stopped when she threatened him with a knife.
Later DNA tests confirmed he was the father, a factor which was used to secure his conviction.
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