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ALAN HERBIE CURRAGH'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN BELFAST: THE ULSTER'S FRITZL OF BALLYBEEN
In April 2014, the harrowing story of two sisters from Belfast, Cathy and Emma, was brought to public attention as they courageously broke their silence about the decades of unimaginable abuse inflicted upon them by their father, Alan (Herbie) Curragh. The sisters, who have chosen to keep their real names private, described Curragh as a monstrous figure, often referred to as ‘Ulster’s Fritzl,’ due to the severity and duration of his crimes.Curragh, a man born and raised in Ballybeen, Belfast, subjected his daughters to a twisted and sadistic regime of sexual abuse that spanned nearly twenty years. The abuse began when Cathy was just six years old, shortly after her father married her mother. Emma’s ordeal started even earlier, around the age of five or six, when Curragh reportedly pulled a gun and threatened her life if she ever disclosed what was happening. Emma recounted that her father would sometimes throw money at her after abusing her, further illustrating the manipulative and controlling nature of his actions.
Emma vividly described how her father would abuse her in various settings, including while she sat on his knee, during car rides, and even at her grandparents’ house. She revealed that there was no escape from his grasp, as he had her cornered everywhere she went. The abuse continued until Emma was 14, at which point she found the courage to report her father to the police. The trauma was so overwhelming that she attempted to take her own life shortly after revealing the abuse to her mother, who was still married to Curragh at the time.
Her mother, overwhelmed by the revelations, was unable to cope and ended up crashing a car, an act Emma believes was a response to her inability to handle the situation. The marriage between her parents eventually ended, and the abuse against Emma ceased, although police did not question Curragh until Emma was 19. Meanwhile, Curragh had managed to manipulate Cathy into believing she was in an intimate relationship with him, a testament to his calculated psychological control. Cathy, diagnosed with Bipolar Psychotic Disorder as a teenager, described how Curragh’s hold over her made her feel as though she had no independent thoughts or will.
In 2011, Curragh faced trial for abusing Emma, but the case ended in a mistrial after he forced Cathy to testify against her sister. Cathy recounted that Curragh dictated her testimony, telling her exactly what to say, and threatened that if she did not comply, further harm would come to her and her family. She described the emotional breakdown she experienced during the trial, feeling trapped and manipulated by her father’s influence.
Following the trial, a DNA test was ordered on Cathy’s three-year-old son, which revealed that the child, whom Cathy believed was fathered by her boyfriend, was actually conceived through incest with her father. This revelation prompted a retrial. Emma expressed her disbelief and anger, believing that Curragh had played on Cathy’s illness and her vulnerability to maintain his control. Emma insisted that she knew Curragh was responsible for the false testimony and that he had a hold over Cathy’s mind.
During the retrial, Curragh forced Emma to relive her childhood hell once more by testifying against him. This time, the court found him guilty of multiple charges, sentencing him to 13 years in prison—eight years for abusing Emma and five years for incest related to Cathy’s son. Tragically, the little boy, who was six years old at the time, died from a rare genetic disorder in the same month the trial concluded. Emma recalled the moment the judge announced the boy’s death, noting Curragh’s lack of reaction.
Curragh, who has admitted to five counts of indecent assault on Cathy from 1995 to 2006 and two counts of rape between November 2002 and November 2006, is scheduled for sentencing that week. Emma expressed her frustration, stating that Curragh would likely receive a shorter sentence this time because of the previous lengthy term. She compared his case to that of Josef Fritzl, who received life imprisonment for incest, questioning the justice served in her father’s case. Emma shared her feelings of loss, trauma, and self-harm, revealing how she used bleach to try to erase the memories of her abuse.
Both sisters emphasized their desire for Curragh to be permanently removed from society, with Emma wishing he could be locked away forever, never to see the light of day again. Their story is a stark reminder of the horrors that can occur within families and the importance of speaking out against abuse. The sisters called for justice and expressed their hope that their father’s punishment would reflect the gravity of his crimes, offering some measure of closure after years of living in what they described as a “living hell.”