Irish sex abuse survivors praised the bravery of Ireland women’s football manager Vera Pauw – after she revealed she had been raped by an official in the game.
The Dutch football association apologised to Vera Pauw, 59, who has spoken out about the abuse she suffered as a player 35 years ago.
The KNVB said it was sorry for the impact the attack had on Ms Pauw.
READ MORE: Dutch football association apologises to Vera Pauw after rape revelation
Irish survivors of sexual abuse praised the Republic of Ireland women’s manager for breaking her silence to reveal she was raped and assaulted.
Last night, rape survivor and founder of the group Survivors by Side, Shaneda Daly, whose prison officer father Harry Daly was jailed for 10 years for raping her, said speaking out like Ms Pauw, is “almost healing in itself”.
Mother-of-six and author Shaneda, 47, said: “As many survivors of rape and sexual assault in Ireland and around the world know, you don’t always get justice when you report your experiences. I was very lucky my father admitted his crimes.
“You would be lucky to get inside a court room. Many survivors don’t have evidence. But making a report, even when you know there won’t be a conviction, is almost freeing in itself.
“That is what Vera did.
“She didn’t get a satisfactory response from the Dutch FA so she made a report to police, even though she knows it not going to go beyond that.
“That is very helpful to many survivors, just to put it down on official paper in a statement to police.
“It means you hand it over and that helps so many people in itself. She is very brave for speaking out as she knows there will be denials and attacks”.
Una Delaney, 49, said Ms Pauw will inspire other survivors to speak out.
Ms Delaney’s attacker, Ian Ryan, was handed a four-year term with one year suspended before Judge Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court in May after pleading guilty to the rape of a child.
Ms Delaney said: “Sadly, Vera has to share her pain with the entire world because she has received no justice.
“It is helpful when someone in her position speaks out like that. Women and men need to stand up and say this is not acceptable.
“I really wish Vera well. I just want to say you need to do it for yourself and for those coming behind you.
“Our lives are destroyed by rape. I suffered a lot of trauma, PTSD, depression, you name it. I was not able to sit through my entire trial.
“We are not looking for sympathy, we are looking for understanding and compassion.”
Thomas Daly, 33, described how he suffered with PTSD, nightmares, depression, anxiety and insomnia after his rapist brother Graham, 37, was put behind bars in January.
Teacher Graham Daly, of Clonree, Newport, Co Tipperary, was locked up in the Midlands Prison for eight-and-a-half years in January for the repeated rapes of his brother.
Thomas said: “What a brave lady Vera is. It took some strength to do what she did, and I hope now moving forward she can recover and get the help she needs.”
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