A WOMAN who claimed she was sexually and physically abused over years by her stepfather has settled her High Court action on terms including an apology from the man.
Noelene Lee (54), Behey, Cavan, had claimed her stepfather, Stephen Conroy, Fatima Court, Dundalk, Co Louth, subjected her to sustained assaults, including rape, sexual assaults, physical and mental abuse from the age of eight to 19. She also alleged continued indecent touching until she was 47 years of age.
The action was listed for hearing yesterday but, at the outset, the court was told by Jeremy Maher SC, for Ms Lee, that a settlement had been reached on the basis of an apology being read in court and an undertaking by Mr Conroy to make a payment by way of contribution towards Ms Lee’s legal costs.
In the apology, Mr Conroy said he acknowledged the damage caused to Ms Lee and apologised to her for the “physical and mental anguish and abuse she suffered from childhood onwards.”
In her action, Ms Lee alleged, on numerous occasions between 1962 and 1973, Mr Conroy had detained her in her family home and other places to engage in sexual intercourse with her against her will.
She claimed he repeatedly subjected her to degrading treatment and also threatened he would commit suicide if she revealed what was happening. In 2002, she made a complaint to the Garda but the DPP did not recommend prosecution.
Ms Lee claimed that as a result of the alleged abuse, she suffered bouts of depression and ongoing difficulties in her sexual relationship with her husband. The couple have no children.
She said she made several attempts at suicide by overdose but it was not until 2001 she made the connection between the abuse and her depression.
In his defence, Mr Conroy had denied he subjected Ms Lee to assaults including sexual, physical and mental abuse or that he held her against her will.