Brave sex assault and violence survivors Hazel Behan, Natasha O'Brien and Rebecca Clarke call for protest
(Image: Collins Photo Agency)Survivors of sexual assault and gender based violence are speaking out against their therapy notes being used in a trial.Brave survivors Hazel Behan, Natasha O’Brien and Rebecca Clarke, are among those also calling for a protest in Dublin on November 25th to call for the elimination of violence against women.Speaking to the media at a press conference highlighting the upcoming protest, the three women were joined by the Rosa Social Feminist Movement, which is organising the event - and Ruth Coppinger TD.Join Irish Mirror's crime and court group on WhatsApp Get all the big crime and court stories direct to your phone on our new WhatsApp service. Sign up here. If you don't like our group you can leave it at any timeOne of the major issues being highlighted is that the private counselling notes of victims continue to be used in criminal trials - something that is deterring many from coming forward.Speaking to this paper about the issue, Hazel Behan - who accuses Madeleine McCann chief suspect Christian Brueckner, of rape, told of how her therapy notes of over 12 years were used by the German rapist in his trial - to undermine her.“I didn’t even realise what was happening when I was handing over my rights, my many years of counselling notes,” Hazel said. “And just to say it doesn’t matter if it's one month or 12 years like it was in my case. They’re still your very own private thoughts. It was only when I realised, if I am being totally fair, during the trial process, there were things that were being brought to me and used against me in that process that nobody else could have known.“They were essentially an assasination of my character. Any previous relationship that I had and any sexual encounter that I had prior to or after doesn’t change what happened on that day.”Hazel said the notes, which were used by Brueckner, who was ultimately acquitted of her rape last year, were a “huge invasion” of her privacy - and she was shocked to learn that a similar practice is taking place in the Irish courts.Defendant Christian B arrives for a session of his trial (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)She also felt that Brueckner, who is now roaming free in Germany, “lusted” over what she felt were her most private thoughts.“The hardest part of that for me was knowing that the person that I believe harmed me had the opportunity to essentially lust over the damage he had caused in my world. That’s still something I struggle with to be honest. They get off on the fact that they caused so much pain and still have so much power.“For me to hand another part of me over to the person I believe harmed me is something I genuinely don’t know if I will ever fully get past,” she said.Deputy Coppinger, who has raised the issue in the Dail, said she was calling on Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan to amend the law - after he determined that under new legislation a Judge has discretion on the issue.“So where we’re at now is the Minister is drafting the law which would still allow the notes to be accessed but the Judge would make the decision. That’s no better because you still know ‘Oh my God my notes could be used. So you are going to choose trial or therapy under that arrangement,” she said.Also speaking at the press conference was Wexford native Rebecca Clarke - who saw her alleged rapist arrested - but the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ultimately decided not to take a case earlier this year. She spoke of the pain of going through the system, believing she would see her day in court - only to be told by the DPP about the high standard required to take such a case.“We’re told to come forward, we’re told to report and we’re told to trust the system. I did. I reported this instantly, immediately after the attack. The gardai themselves believed they had enough evidence… they were surprised when the DPP decided not to prosecute my case.“This went on from July 2022 to April 2025. It’s a long time. The silence from the DPP and the lack of communication is surreal. No real answers, no explanation. Just months and years of waiting and uncertainty,” she said.Speaking about the response she ultimately received from the DPP Ms Clarke said:“When I finally received one of the DPP’s responses after so long, it concluded with this quote - ‘I concluded that the evidence was not strong enough to establish the issue of consent to the high standard of proof required.’ “They’re not saying that I consented, they’re not saying that there’s evidence - they are saying that the standard is so high that they chose not to pursue it. I never got my day in court, I never had my chance to say my truth,” she said.Natasha O’Brien, who took a case against former Defence Forces member Cathal Crotty for a horrific assault that occurred in Limerick, said she considered herself one of the “lucky” ones who ultimately managed to secure justice - albeit on appeal.Cathal Crotty was handed a suspended sentence Speaking at the press conference, she said survivors are more powerful than they may believe.“Tackling and reducing gender based violence can feel debilitating. It can feel like a never ending fight. It can be so difficult. It’s in every second headline, it's impacting those we love and those around us. I’m just one person. Each and every one of us is far more powerful than we believe,” she said.Speaking about the horrific attack she suffered and about securing justice in the courts after Crotty was initially given a wholly suspended sentence she said:“I felt utterly helpless. I was just reduced to a mere punching bag and stripped of my humanity. No one deserves that. Then I went on to experience another violent attack at the hands of the Irish justice system. I was totally retraumatised, I was picked apart and I was left feeling totally overlooked, invisible, worthless.“I do consider myself fortunate to be here today and to be able to stand up for what’s right. I left that Irish court room last year completely shattered. But now I am no longer alone. The solidarity and support of Ireland has filled me with strength and hope. The power for change lies in each and every one of our voices,” she said.The march will take place to mark the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women and will begin at City Hall in Dublin at 5:30pm on November 25th.Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
