A woman receives a double prison sentence from her father for rape

A girl who was raped and sexually abused by her father from the age of 12 has spoken of the chilling second he instructed her he “simply could not assist it”.

Aimee Foley, 21, from Ennisymon, Co Clare, Eire, says Mike O’Donoghue’s verbal and emotional abuse started when she was simply 4 years previous.

As she acquired older, O’Donoghue’s abuse turned sexual in nature and he first confirmed the then 12-year-old Aimee pornography throughout a sleepover at his residence in 2013.

Three years later, Aimee – then 15 – was raped by her father, now 44, in her residence.

It wasn’t till the sexual abuse survivor was in her first 12 months of music research at Maynooh College that the reminiscence of the rape on December 23, 2016 got here again to her in a flashback and she or he started to hunt justice.

In December 2021, Mike O’Donoghue was sentenced to 5 years in jail for 31 sexual assaults in opposition to his daughter, which Aimee appealed.

It was confirmed final month that O’Donoghue had been virtually doubled and can now spend virtually a decade behind bars.

Right here Aimee, who has waived her proper to stay nameless, shares her story with FEMAIL.

Aimee Foley, 21, has bravely waived her proper to stay nameless within the hope her story will assist different victims of sexual abuse search justice.

Aimee’s father Mike O’Donoghue, 44, was doubled to virtually 10 years a month later after admitting 31 counts of sexual abuse.

Aimee pictured on her first day at college aged 12, across the time her father first sexually abused her

I at all times knew that my dad Mike – who labored as a painter and decorator – was a tough particular person. However that did not imply I did not love him.

My mum Camille, 40, and he cut up up 4 weeks earlier than I used to be born and he acquired hour-long visits after I took her to courtroom as a toddler.

However in 2001 he moved to Ballinasloe, Co Galway, the following county over – that means I went over each different weekend for a sleepover.

My earliest reminiscence with my father was after I was 4 years previous. He tried to show me tips on how to tie my shoelaces and stored calling me a ‘ineffective f***’ and a ‘retard’ as a result of I could not do it proper.

Aimee – pictured as a baby – says her father started verbally abusing her from the age of 4, calling her a ‘ineffective whore’ when she could not tie her shoelaces

Aimee’s father Mike – pictured earlier than Aimee reported him to the police – raped her when she was simply 15 after plying her with drink and medicines.

Rising up, he tried to reassure me that nobody else liked me like he did, that he would at all times shield me, and that my mom needed an abortion as a result of she was solely 17 when she acquired pregnant, which was not true.

I see now that he was grooming me to be an individual and an object that he might ultimately use.

Each time I got here again from his home, my mother says I used to be in a fog. I used to be too younger to know, however now I see that he was making an attempt to show me in opposition to her.

In late 2013, he picked me up from his dad and mom’ home in Ennisimon on a Friday as typical and we made the 90 minute drive to his home.

Within the automobile he began asking me if I ever messed with a boy. He instructed me that daddy daughter porn was his favourite class and began giving me recommendations on tips on how to please males.

It did not ring any alarm bells as a result of I believed it was similar to these intercourse conversations you could have at college – I assumed everybody talked to their dad and mom about this.

The next evening he gave me my first drink – however I did not just like the white wine so he switched it to Paddy’s Irish whiskey.

He then took out a cigarette from the hemp and confirmed me tips on how to smoke it. As soon as I used to be drunk and pissed, my dad began exhibiting me his porn assortment.

The factor that can hang-out me perpetually is how the ladies within the video seemed similar to me, just a bit older.

Then I instructed him I needed to fall asleep. However after I acquired as much as depart, he stated he’d sleep subsequent to me in case I acquired “inexperienced” from the hashish/booze mixture.

Then after we acquired to my room he warned me that he may very well be ‘good’ when he drank.

After about 10 minutes he began groping me from behind within the mattress. I stored telling him, ‘Mike – cease it. Mike – cease it.”

Aimee says her father confirmed her ‘dad and daughter’ porn when she was 12 and instructed her it was his ‘favorite class’

When that did not work, I yelled, “Dad, cease it.” This solely made it worse.

In some way I managed to stumble out of 1 bed room into one other. After that evening he sexually or bodily abused me each time I visited. Though he as soon as banned me from sporting £5 leggings from Primark, my dad now turns a blind eye after I put on them.

On December 23, 2016, Dad introduced me to his new residence he now shared together with his spouse and sons for Christmas.

We had been alone in the home that night and requested me to assist him enhance.

I performed music on my laptop computer and he poured us triple G&Ts whereas we painted the kitchen. Smoking weed acquired me so drunk and excessive that I handed out on the desk. He took me to my bed room after which left.

Aimee pictured aged 15, simply 16 days earlier than her father Mike raped her at their residence in Ballinasloe, Co Galway.

As I drank a lot, issues acquired a bit of blurry after that. I threw up my hair and began strolling round the home searching for a spot to sleep.

My dad was searching for me when he smelled vomit and claimed to have discovered me bare in one other mattress. That is when he raped me.

I handed out at that time, however the ache I felt alerted me that one thing was flawed. I lastly managed to make a sound that made him cease.

I twisted my physique in direction of the wall inflicting him to go away the room. I handed out once more.

The following morning he instructed me I made sexual advances on him by rubbing my nostril in opposition to his neck.

He instructed me, ‘I simply could not assist myself’.

After I went to go to relations for Christmas, I seemed him within the eye and stated, ‘I do not know what occurred final evening, however it will probably by no means occur once more.’

However the sexual abuse stopped for all of 4 weeks earlier than selecting up once more.

Each time folks ask me why I did not communicate up sooner, I inform them the mind is an excellent factor. I blocked out reminiscences I could not take care of.

It wasn’t till I used to be learning music at Maynooth College that the occasions of that evening started to return again to me in flashbacks. On freshers week I used to be mugged in a nightclub and I remembered feeling one thing I could not place.

In November, my dad requested if I had ever misplaced my virginity to an ex-boyfriend.

He texted: “It wasn’t the primary time.”

I replied, “What do you imply?”

And he replied, ‘Oh, you do not keep in mind that? Don’t worry about it.”

After that I began having flashbacks. Just a few days later I confided in my roommate.

After I went residence for Christmas 2019, I discovered the braveness to inform my mother, however I nonetheless insisted that he was a extremely good dad.

Regardless that my mother strongly suggested in opposition to it, I went to my dad’s home once more that 12 months for Christmas and he groped me as typical. This made me notice that he was conscious of what he was doing. A member of my household reported him to the police in January.

Aimee shared her story to encourage different victims of sexual abuse to return ahead. The aspiring musician stated: ‘I admire every single day that I am one of many fortunate ones who acquired it proper by the system after getting it flawed to start with.’

Dad denied every part at first. However in February 2020, he got here ahead and stated, ‘I will make it straightforward for you guys. I did it. I sexually assaulted my daughter and recorded it on my telephone.’

Individuals would possibly assume it was a reduction to listen to him confess, however I do know he was solely doing it as a result of Irish legislation is extra lenient in direction of those that plead responsible.

When he was sentenced to simply 5 years in jail in December 2021, it was like a cloud of ashes fell on me. Throughout the trial he solely checked out me as soon as to sneer after which he did not meet my eyes.

After listening to the decide’s verdict, I ran out of the room and contemplated throwing myself down the 4 flights of stairs in entrance of me. I felt like the entire thing was nugatory.

Fortuitously the DPP agreed with me that the decide was too lenient and on attraction Dad’s sentence was virtually doubled to 10 years. The sentence won’t ever be what it must be, but it surely’s higher than anybody anticipated.

In any case, I’ve good days and unhealthy days. I might nonetheless like to check music and begin writing songs to get by way of the case.

I admire every single day that I’m one of many fortunate ones who acquired it proper by the system after getting it flawed to start with.

Everybody makes use of the phrase rape as if there’s nothing behind it. However it’s so outstanding in each England and Eire, and it have to be held to account. On the finish of the day, it will probably occur to anybody – a baby, a person, a lady.

We’d like a spot the place we really feel secure and the place therapeutic is a precedence. I desire to be known as a survivor, however in the long run I’m a sufferer.

If any of the problems in Aimee’s story hit you, Help for women offers free and confidential help.