Bláthnaid Raleigh, who waived her anonymity to name her rapist Johnny Moran in July 2024, says that the use of therapy notes in sexual assault trials “is horrific”.
Speaking to Róisín Ingle on the latest episode of The Irish Times Women’s Podcast, the Mullingar woman explains, “That is your one safe space, your counselling notes.”
Raleigh warns that allowing the use of victim’s confidential therapy sessions in court, only deepens the trauma of the legal process.
“Sexual violence, as we know, is all about the loss of control and power for a victim. Through a court process, he [the perpetrator] is still in control. He knows what evidence is coming up. You don’t”.
READ MORE
Noting that some reforms are being made in the form of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 which is currently being considered at the Oireachtas Justice Committee, Raleigh adds that “there is change coming, but I think we need to be realistic in knowing that it’s not going to be eradicated fully”.
“Counselling notes will still be used. How they are used is going to change and maybe how often they are used, but it won’t be eradicated fully,” she says.
In this conversation with Ingle, Bláthnaid gives an unflinching account of the 2019 attack, which she has also documented in her new book Aftermath.
Even when discussing the most traumatic events of her life, Raleigh remains resilient. “I never would have thought that I would have had this strength. I do think now, nothing can shake me. Like what can happen that I won’t get through?”
“You know, I talk about how hard the court thing was but I would do it again in a heartbeat” she says.
She hopes her story might encourage other survivors to come forward. “For the people who are in between, who are like ‘I don’t know if I could do it’ … the fight you’re doing now every day, getting up and making your bed, or going to work, even if you’re not there yet, you’re doing it. The court process is no harder than what you’re doing and you will get through it,” Raleigh says.
You can listen back to this conversation in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.
In association with Kildare village.
