JOHN CURLEY ABUSER FROM DERRY SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN WATERSIDE

In a courageous act of bravery, a woman from Derry has publicly broken a two-decade silence to reveal the identity of her abuser, a relative who subjected her to sexual abuse during her childhood. The woman, Kelly, chose to waive her right to anonymity as a victim of sexual abuse, determined to shed light on her harrowing experience and ensure her abuser, John Curley, is held accountable.

Earlier this month, John Curley, aged 69 and residing in Clondermott Park in Derry's Waterside area, was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison for a series of indecent assaults committed against Kelly. The court also mandated that upon his release, he will serve an additional three years under community supervision. Furthermore, Curley will remain on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life, a measure designed to monitor and prevent further offenses.

Kelly expressed her desire for the public to be aware of her abuser’s identity and the extent of his crimes. She stated, “I just want people to know who he is and what he’s done. I’ve given up my right to protection because, by staying anonymous, I’m protecting him — and he doesn’t deserve that.” Her decision to speak out underscores her determination to confront her past and advocate for justice.

Recalling the traumatic day of her First Holy Communion, Kelly described being abused in a seemingly innocent setting. “We were out for dinner in Donegal after Mass, and there were swings outside in the hotel garden,” she recounted. “I finished my meal and went outside to play. I remember my long white dress and not wanting to get it dirty, so I stood on the swing. He came up behind me, pretending to push me, and then he put his hand up my dress. I remember saying, ‘Not today, please not today.’”

The abuse, Kelly revealed, did not end there. It continued for nearly another five years, during which she endured ongoing manipulation and assault. She recounted how he frequently called her to ask her to go to the shops for him, a request she often refused. However, her mother, who was battling Multiple Sclerosis and whose condition worsened during that period, would often insist she go, unaware of the true reason behind her daughter’s reluctance. Kelly emphasized, “She didn’t realize. She has to live with that now. I told her it wasn’t her fault.”

Curley’s abuse was mainly carried out in his living room, where Kelly was coerced into undressing and assaulted repeatedly. “Every week, he made me get undressed, and he would get on top of me,” she said. “I knew not to say anything because he had me so mentally tortured. I thought if I kept quiet, it would all be over soon. I always wished I could tell someone.”

Kelly’s mother’s warnings about personal boundaries and the importance of speaking out were a constant presence in her childhood. “My mother always told me, ‘Kelly, nobody is allowed to touch you,’” she recalled. “She kept us very aware of that and would ask, ‘You would tell me if somebody did something to you, wouldn’t you?’ I always said yes, but I knew I just couldn’t.”

Her silence was broken during her early teens, around the age of 11 or 12, when Curley told her, after an assault, that she no longer needed to keep their secret. “He said, ‘You don’t have to do this anymore. You’re a big girl now. Remember, it’s our little secret, and if you tell anyone, they won’t believe you. You’re as much to blame,’” Kelly recounted.

Helena Bracken, a counselor at the Nexus Institute where Kelly received therapy, praised her for her bravery. “Kelly is a very brave person who has done an awful lot to challenge the stigma of sex abuse,” she said. “Part of healing is being believed and getting justice. The fact that Kelly has gone through a lengthy legal process and has chosen to reveal her identity to name her abuser is commendable. I hope her actions inspire others to come forward.”

Kelly expressed no regrets about her decision to pursue justice through the courts. “It was hell and back, but it was totally worth it,” she affirmed. “As an adult, I believe you have to be brave and think about protecting other children. You only get one childhood. I lost mine.”