Here are the full victim impact statements of brave abuse survivors Catherine Wrightstone, Paula Fay and Yvonne Crist, who were abused by their brother - former priest Richard Brennan. Ms Fay and Ms Crist were also abused by their brother Bernard Brennan.
CATHERINE WRIGHTSTONE
My name is Catherine Wrightstone (formerly Catherine Brennan), and I am here today as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and rape at the hands of my brother, Richard Brennan. Today, I speak not only for the child I was, but for the 54 year-old adult I am still healing, still affected, and still seeking justice. Let me be clear, I am not here to ask for vengeance. I am here to ask for recognition of the harm that was done and to help the court understand the lasting impact these crimes have had on my life, and the immense courage it took to come forward as a child, a teenager and then as an adult.
I want the court to understand that childhood sexual abuse and rape causes deep and lasting harm beyond the acts themselves. But most important of all, I want my voice to matter-because for too long, it did not.
The abuse began when I was 9 years old and Richard was 19 years old and it continued for many years. Even though I had found the courage to first break my silence at age 12, thanks to the support of my best friend Michelle Goggins, and tell an adult connected with the secondary school I attended back then, the system failed me.
Sadly, my own parents failed me as they chose to believe Richard over me which meant the abuse continued. For 42 years, I have been fighting to have my voice heard and finally, through this arduous legal process of 6 years, I stand here today hoping my voice will be heard.
It is important to note that Richard has continuously lied to protect his own reputation and, in doing so, labeled me as the liar which resulted in increased verbal and physical abuse, and emotional neglect from my mother coupled with a painful lack of support from my siblings at a meeting held at St John of God's back in the 1980's. However, they were understandably terrified at that time to speak their truth due to the fact that they too had suffered abuse at the hands of Richard who also happened to be in attendance that day.
But that lack of support, primarily due to Richard's coercive control over them, left me feeling isolated and alone, and erroneously believing for many years that I was his only victim. Moreover, I began to believe there must be something fundamentally wrong with me to cause my own brother to violate me and only me in such horrific ways.
Judge, Richard's crimes against me left me grappling, for periods of time, with a range of difficulties. I have spent decades crawling out from under the rubble as I have been left with enduring scars that have shaped the way I view myself, my body, and the world around me.
In order to help the court understand the myriad ways I have been impacted, I would like to list specific ways this crime has impacted me.
1. From an Emotional and Psychological perspective:
2. From a Relational perspective:
• My marriage of almost 30 years has been negatively impacted due to flashbacks occuring during intimate moments. Therefore, my husband has had to endure some of my pain.
• To a certain degree my children have suffered as a direct result of the abuse and have had to endure the emotional pain of now knowing what their uncle did to their mother.
• For years, I was overly compliant (especially with authority figures) and fearful of conflict due to early powerlessness.
3. From a Behavioral and Cognitive perspective:
• For a long period of time, I struggled with underachievement due to low self-esteem. For example, it took me until my mid thirties to finally pursue higher education as I did not believe I was smart enough to attend university.
• Over the years, I have struggled with feelings of worthlessness and helplessness.
• At times, I have isolated myself from others, fearing judgment and further harm.
• Internal narratives like "I'm damaged" or "I'm unlovable" have been extremely challenging to unlearn. Negative self-beliefs still rear their ugly head in times of stress and I have to work very hard to overcome them. It is an exhausting process that I still have to engage in from time to time.
• It is also important to mention, that these struggles have interfered with my educational goals and career aspirations directly impacting my overall financial health and personal fulfilment. Over the years, I have had to take time off of work or work fewer hours due to struggles with various symptoms of PTSD.
4. In terms of Physical Health:
It is important to note that the body's prolonged exposure to stress hormones like cortisol can damage multiple systems over time, contributing to long-term health complications. This is well documented by the CDC and Kaiser Permanente's ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Study.
• Over the years, prolonged exposure to stress from trauma has resulted in struggles in the following areas - gastrointestinal issues, chronic fatigue, endometriosis and struggles with various autoimmune responses throughout my body.
• I have also struggled on and off with insomnia, hypersomnia and nightmares. Sadly, during the trial, nightmares became a common reoccurrence.
5. From an Existential Perspective:
It is often hard for me to feel that the world is a safe, just, or predictable place. From a spiritual perspective, my belief in a benevolent force has been strongly impacted as a direct result of what Richard did to me especially due to the fact that he utilized the church and his standing in it as a way to manipulate others into believing he could not possibly commit such crimes.
The trial was retraumatizing for the following reasons - 1). Richard's inability to accept responsibility for his actions until the 11th hour. 2). His self-serving behaviour throughout the trial. 3). Having to hear him state with righteous indignation 27 times the words "not guilty" 4). Having to relive each memory and verbalizing in minute detail for the court and a group of 12 jurors the many grotesque things he did to me. And last but not least...5). It was extremely painful to re-experience the extent of his manipulation and deceit as I watched his wife and sister-in-law stand by him in court; realizing they too are victims of his lies.
I want the court to realize that the trauma did not end when the abuse stopped. I live with the consequences every single day. Therapy has helped. Speaking out has helped.
Helping others as a licensed psychotherapist has helped. But nothing can give me back the childhood and innocence that Richard stole from me.
Richard you stole my sense of safety, not just in our home but in our family and in my body. You robbed me of my bodily autonomy and integrity, and instilled fear and shame. For years, I carried the weight of what happened to me. But the shame does not belong to me. It belongs solely at your feet. You utilized a dysfunctional, abusive home to further terrorize me by hijacking my body, my mind and, for a period of time, even my soul leaving me feeling dead inside after you stole my virginity.
You cared more for your reputation and perverted needs than the welfare of your own sisters. Each time I found the courage to speak the truth and seek help, you thwarted my attempts and silenced me by lying to our parents, my headnun, and even the psychologist/s at St John of Gods. You did so not just as my much older brother, someone I should have been able to trust, but as a professed "man of God." You hid behind the Church's mantle like a sheep in wolf's clothing masking menace with meekness and depravity with sanctity.
However, despite everything you did to me, I have reclaimed my life, piece by piece. I am not defined by what you did to me. But I do want justice. Not just for me and my sisters, but for the child I used to be, who deserved so much better.
I have tried for decades to attempt to ensure the protection of other children who were exposed to Richard by informing others of what Richard did to me, including Richard's wife and one of his previous employers, a Church in America. The primary reason for me sharing my truth with an Garda Siochana back in 2019, apart from seeking justice, was to protect potential others from harm.
I am hopeful the court will send a message to victims of similar crimes but more importantly to other sexual offenders, that this behaviour, primarily but not exclusively perpetrated against females, will not be tolerated. I recognize that the court is limited in its power to address the widespread systemic issue of sexual violence against young girls and women. But the court has the power to show that the gross injustice of these types of acts will not be tolerated. Thankfully, the Ireland of the 1980s is not the same as the Ireland of 2025.
Judge, the damage done by childhood sexual abuse and rape is not just a memory-it is a lifelong sentence of emotional pain, broken trust, and an ongoing struggle to reclaim safety and self-worth. For me and many others, justice in the courtroom is a crucial step in healing. Holding perpetrators accountable is not just about punishment; it is about affirming the value of the survivor's life, their truth, and their fundamental right to live free from fear, coercion or intimidation.
I would like to thank the court for giving me this opportunity today to speak and the DPP's legal team for bringing this to trial coupled with the tireless work of Detective Sergeants Neill Fogarty and Kevin Drennan and Detective Joanne Grogan. I would also like to thank my sisters Paula and Yvonne for their tremendous courage in coming forward and my best friend Michelle Goggins who stood by me all those years ago while informing me it was not my fault. Without her support back then and now, I don't believe I would be standing here today. And last but not least, I would like to thank my wonderful husband Todd, my children, my friends and family who are present today and Cliona Woods of the DRCC for being such a calming presence throughout the trial.
Richard, you can no longer hide behind the mantle of the church. The truth has finally seen the light of day and you no longer control my life. Though you knew what you did with eyes wide open and conscience clear, still I rose. I am a resilient woman, weathered but unbroken, in spite of you - of sound mind and surrounded today by the love and light of beloved others.
PAULA FAY
Growing up, I always felt incapable, insufficient and inferior - I felt invisible. A child with no voice, no power, and no sense of worth. I learned from an early age to stay silent, to hide my pain, and to expect little from the world. That silence followed me into adulthood and for a long time, I believed that what I felt didn't matter. Standing here today, I am finally using my voice – not just for the child I was, but for the person I'm still becoming. Richard, by putting me through this trial, you made me re-live the nightmare of my childhood, re-opening deep wounds. But this is my moment. I do matter. My voice matters. The pain that I carry deserves to be heard.
The psychological impact has been profound-an experience that is difficult to fully grasp. Time and again, I find myself returning to that little girl: that little girl who did nothing wrong, that little girl who had no choice, no escape, no voice, no support. That little girl who did not understand what was happening to her, only the overwhelming fear that shaped her world. That little girl was robbed of her innocence. I was that little girl.
The aftermath-the torment, the anguish-has followed me through life. The sexual abuse I suffered at the hands of you Richard was relentless and enduring for years. My childhood home should have been a refuge, a place of warmth and safety. Instead, it became a prison where fear ruled, and trust was shattered.
The impact of the abuse I endured as a child severely affected my education. Concentrating in school felt nearly impossible, and I quickly fell behind through no fault of my own. Despite my struggles, I managed to scrape through my Leaving Certificate, but my academic journey was undeniably shaped by years of trauma. That little girl once had the world at her feet, full of potential, yet it was stripped away by the relentless, repetitive sexual assaults she suffered. My heart aches for that little girl-for all that she lost, for the innocence stolen from her far too soon.
It was 1981 when I finally broke free from this sexual abuse, having endured at least ten years of it, beginning at just six or seven years old at the hands of firstly my brother Bernard and then carried on through the rest of my childhood by you, Richard.
While 17-year-old Paula was free from the assaults, the psychological torment did not end-it lingers, woven into my daily life. The sexual abuse not only affected my mental and emotional health it also affected my physical health. At 18 I suffered chronic Urticaria and angioedema leading to Anaphylaxis. I was in hospital for weeks with Doctor's unable to identify a cause but in reality, it was due to the trauma I had suffered.
Being alone is often the hardest; that's when the graphic memories flood back, when self-doubt creeps in, and I question my worth. These moments can leave me feeling low, struggling against waves of sadness. Yet, even in the midst of these challenges, I remind myself that I survived. I continue to rise, even when it's difficult, and that in itself is proof of my strength.
I find comfort in staying busy, filling my days with purpose, so I don't get lost in reliving the horrific abuse that you put me through. It gives me a sense of safety within myself. Every day, I surprise myself with my ability to persevere-to pick myself up and keep moving forward, despite the pain I endured as a child.
Now, as an adult, I have fully processed what happened to me and understand, without a doubt, that none of it was my fault. That realization has been profound. I am immensely proud of the woman I have become-the woman that scared, vulnerable little girl fought so hard to become. Standing here today, I honour her strength, her resilience, and the unwavering spirit that has carried me through.
It's a miracle I managed to stay sane. How, I truly don't know. But I learned to build resilience, to develop strong coping mechanisms, and-most of all-I chose to survive. I compartmentalized the horrific abuse, locking away the memories, sealing them in boxes, doing everything I could to keep them contained.
One of the greatest reasons I was able to endure and hold onto my sanity was the gift I was blessed with-my singing voice. My ability to sing became my refuge, my escape, my lifeline. Music was something no one could take from me, and it carried me through the darkness.
Singing was the one thing I truly excelled at-it made me stand out from my peers. But more than that, it became my escape, a refuge from the weight of the sexual abuse I endured. It gave me a sense of achievement, something I longed for as a little girl.
Through music, I could express myself freely, unburdened by fear. It was a space where I wasn't defined by pain, but by passion and talent. And, for the first time, I could receive recognition-positive praise that reminded me of my worth.
For years, there was no one to protect me-no one to stop the appalling sexual abuse that shattered my childhood. It has taken me a long time to feel safe enough to share my past and finally trust someone to guide me towards justice. To my counsellor, I am eternally grateful.
In January 2019, my sisters and I made the courageous decision to report the horrific sexual abuse we endured at the hands of our brothers to An Garda Síochána. It was a moment of reclaiming our voices - of breaking free from the silence that had weighed us down for so long.
This journey has been long and arduous one, since then. The decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions to press charges felt like an eternity, with legal obstacles standing between me, my sisters, and the chance to finally speak our truth. After years of silence, we were finally given the opportunity to tell the stories of those little girls - who had been voiceless for too long.
Yvonne and Catherine, we stand together, not only bound by blood, but the strength we found in each other through unimaginable pain. Together we have faced the shame that was never ours to carry. Our voices are united, not only to speak our truth but to reclaim our power. We now stand resilient and through our courage we hope others will find theirs.
Since then, I have felt an overwhelming sense of freedom, as if a heavy burden has finally been lifted from my shoulders. For the first time, I truly felt heard. That newfound sense of recognition has given me the confidence to move forward, stepping into a future where my past no longer defines me.
As a result of going through this trial, I also missed an important opportunity - an interview for a promotion at work. This process hasn't just affected my past; it has continued to impact my daily life, forcing me to put aside my own personal and professional growth.
I feel incredibly fortunate to be here today - to have found the strength and courage to stand tall, with my head held high, and show the world that survival is possible even after years of suffering.
Today, I truly step into my identity as a survivor. I am no longer defined by what was done to me, but by the resilience and determination that carried me through.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to the incredible people who have stood by me throughout this challenging journey. To my partner, Gerry-my unwavering rock, whose support has been immeasurable. To my three wonderful children - Sarah, Sean, and Amy-who encouraged me to speak my truth and embrace my strength.
To my friends, who have been a source of comfort and reassurance.
To the dedicated members of An Garda Síochána, who have walked this path with me every step of the way. To my work colleagues and, especially, my senior management team-your empathy and steadfast support has meant the world to me.
The kindness, belief, and unwavering support shown by each of you have been a beacon of light in my journey, and for that, I am forever grateful.
I also want to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to the Courts for listening to my story and, finally, believing me. After years of pain and silence, justice has been served.
Richard, you have never apologised for your actions, nor have you shown the slightest remorse-even to this day. Standing in court, forced to relive the extreme sexual abuse I endured at your hands as a child, only further reveals the true nature of the person you are. Your silence speaks volumes, but so does my voice. By standing up, telling my truth, and refusing to let your lack of accountability define me, I reclaim my strength.
I now look to the full power of the law to ensure that my brother, Richard, faces the consequences of his actions. I hope that his sentencing reflects the severity of his crimes and brings accountability that has been long overdue. This justice is not just for me, but for all those who have endured such pain and fought to be heard.
Today I truly am a survivor.
YVONNE CRIST
To the court and the Honorable Judge: I was victimized by my brother Richard trying to sexually assault me one night as I slept in my parent's bedroom. You were 18 years old, and I was 20.
This particular night has had a considerable impact on me. I have nightmares and dreams of this night still occurring to this day. The night you tried to assault me I was terrified of you because you were so strong, and I regret not having called the police back then, as you wouldn't have been able to continue your sexual behaviors towards my sisters. God was on my side that night. This night affected me so much that I couldn't get the shame to wash away. You made me feel that I was a dirty person. I began to abhor myself. In my mind I was a filthy piece of dirt, and I didn't deserve to live. I became bulimic with anorexia to try to die slowly when I was in my late teenage years, but I made myself stop when I turned almost 20.
I tried to drown myself, when I was 19 but God intervened, and I survived. I developed a mental illness at the age of 28. Which means that I have been on numerous pills, and I have been in six hospitals, was administered 19 Elective Convulsive Shock Therapy treatments for my mental illness until they fully diagnosed me with Bipolar 1 with psychotic features.
Approx. 10 years ago. I have been on heavy psychotropic meds of all kinds and had to deal with their side effects. I take different pills now, 14 in total and have been well for over six years. Mental illness interfered with my ability to work during the day sometimes, but because I loved to sing this career took off when I was young and I was taken away from my troubled self and it lent me an avenue to express all my feelings of suppressed depression, anger and sadness. Music was my saving grace then. I experienced panic attacks and fear-based feelings again and I tried to muster through the last two years till I met my husband and moved to New York. I gradually became psychotic in New York. This lasted approximately two years till I became a mother of two boys. One son, in 93 and the other in 2001.
But when I gave birth to Daniel, our second son, everything fell apart, and I had to go to hospital and was diagnosed with severe depression with persecutory psychotic features. I nearly didn't make it back to reality. I was sick for a long time, and my husband couldn't work but take care of Daniel and me. This is the time I had Elective Convulsive Shock Therapy; 19 total; 15 in the USA and 4 later in Ireland. I was going to be put in the State Asylum if I didn't pull through. So, this proves that Incest lasts a lifetime. It took 2 years to come off some heavy psychotropic medicine to earn my driver's license back. My husband was finally able to go back to work after a whole year of absence.
Oh, the pain and suffering I have endured. During psychosis I saw that the walls were running with water and felt the ground under me soaked with the water, making it harder to walk. While reading, all the words and letters jumped off the page. The battles with the devil between good and evil.
This IS what mental illness is like when it hits hard, or I didn't get out of the bed for weeks because of how depressed I felt. I felt like a failure and a drain on my family. Sexual abuse is lethal, which caused me to lose my identity many times. I was admitted to hospital in Georgia and It was self-pay. I also went back to a state hospital when
I came back to Ireland, because I developed Catatonia. I stayed there for months but didn't get well while there.
I was finally diagnosed with Bipolar 1 with psychotic features in the last hospital I was in and was given lithium to take. This was also self-pay. It had taken lithium for me to get well, and I had lost almost a year of my life, shy of 6 weeks.
Later I found out that Lithium was poisoning my body, and I was taken off it immediately, and prescribed another medicine, which costs almost $1000 a month. It took me 3 years to find another psychiatrist and he did make me well. My medication slowly changed. Now I can function very well, and I am happy that I didn't get ill after my husband died almost two years ago. I survived and I am a survivor.
So now you understand my journey throughout my life where incest played a major role with my mental health, my well-being, my physical health, my psychological self and the times I was unable to work and my Husband too.
We filed bankruptcy due to all the costs of my hospital stays and out of pocket medications costs. I cannot stress enough how much incestuousness has played on my psyche. While I was being crossed examined in court, I was retraumatized again with new evidence and I am still in shock.
To anyone out there, I send out my condolences and what you have all been through, but it is so worth it to have your perpetrator brought to Justice. Thank you everyone for listening.
Thank you to all who worked for the DPP who also worked so hard for this case to come about and be heard. I would like to especially thank detective Neill Fogarty for all his hard work in making these cases happen where Justice prevails and we get closure. Never doubt and survive because you are so worth it, life does get better.