A MAN who suffered years of abuse as a teenager took his own life following the publication of the Ryan report into clerical sex crimes, it emerged yesterday.An inquest heard Damian Joseph Farrelly (42) was found dead by his wife at their home in June following a period in which he drank heavily and "couldn't cope with the pain" associated with the abuse he received 30 years earlier.
Frances Farrelly had returned to the family home at Westbourne Close, Clondalkin, Dublin, on June 23 after picking up her daughter from playschool when she found her husband hanging from the attic.
Dublin Coroner's Court heard Mr Farrelly had developed a problem with alcohol following the publication in May of the Ryan report into clerical sex abuse. He had not drank for seven years prior to this.
Ms Farrelly, who was not in court during the inquest into her husband's death, said he had been abused from the age of 12 to 14, and this eventually led to his death.
"I feel Damian turned to drink to help him cope with the abuse," she said.
"In 2004, his case was before the Four Courts, but Damian settled on the steps rather than relive the abuse, hurt and pain," she said in a statement.
Counselling
"Damian said that no matter what counselling he did, the pain never went away.
"I know in my heart and soul this is why Damian took his own life. He couldn't cope with the pain.
"Damian hit rock bottom when the Ryan report was published in May. Damian had been a recovered alcoholic for seven years and turned to drink."
The Ryan report from the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (CICA) was the widest-ranging investigation into institutional child sexual abuse in the history of the State and attracted worldwide coverage when it was published.
Mr Farrelly had been quiet on the morning of his death, said Ms Farrelly.
However, she put this down to him feeling guilty about being arrested for drink-driving the previous week.
He was the father of three girls: Ciara (12), Amy (10) and Leah (4).
Coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty recorded a verdict of suicide in the case.
A spokesman for the Catholic Church last night said the circumstances in the case "are very, very sad".
"This case highlights again the awfulness of abuse and its life-long impact on the lives of victims and on their families," he said.
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