ABUSE SURVIVOR GERARD SMYTH, GIVES HIS FIRST TELEVISION INTERVIEW ON THE MORNING SHOW WITH SYBIL &

TV3 GROUP RELEASE
IMMEDIATE: Tuesday 19th January 2010

“He said it was God’s will and that women were the devil….

…. I’ve seventy three stitches altogether from self-harming due to the abuse”

Abuse survivor Gerard Smyth from Rosslea was just 12 years old when he was subjected to abuse by Frank Mulligan, one of Ireland's most successful amateur boxing coaches

Smyth kept the abuse hidden until he was 23

What followed was a five year legal case where Mulligan denied all charges until eventually admitting his guilt

Mulligan admitted buggery and sexual assault of three boys and indecent assault of another two boys

Full interview transcript attached

Watch this episode online at www.tv3.ie/themorningshow

Images have been sent to your picture desks

Gerard Smyth from Rosslea was 12 years old when he was subjected to horrific sexual abuse by Frank Mulligan, one of Ireland's most successful amateur boxing coaches and former trainer of Barry McGuigan. The abuse lasted three years and was only ended when Smyth, aged 15, eventually stood up to him and stopped him; however he kept the abuse secret until he was 23. Smyth says the memories of those harrowing three years will always haunt him and talks of how the abuse destroyed his life, as he opens up for the first time on television on TV3’s The Morning Show with Sybil and Martin which aired this morning at 11am.

Having broken down & told his family about the abuse, Smyth then went to the Gardaí to report it. What followed was a five year legal case where Mulligan denied all charges before eventually admitting his guilt.

Gerard Smyth said: “He said it was God’s will and that women were the devil and to stay away from them. He said it was the done thing, that this was part of your training, this was part of your discipline.”

“I was self-harming. I’ve seventy three stitches altogether from self harming. I cut myself with a razor blade. I used to wake up in the morning & look in the mirror and hate myself for something I didn’t do wrong.” (PAUSES UPSET).

“Twice I tried suicide, I got to the stage where I didn’t want to be here anymore. But thankfully my family and friends stood by me and they kept me going.”

Full interview transcript attached

Watch this episode online at www.tv3.ie/themorningshow

Images have been sent to your picture desks

ENDS.

For further information:
Maureen Catterson/ Ciara Byrne
TV3 PRESS OFFICE +353 1 419 3430/ 329
+353 87 7800 737/ +353 87 319 9732
Maureen.catterson@tv3.ie
Ciara.byrne@tv3.ie
publicity@tv3.ie
www.tv3.ie

Notes to Editor: After a five year case Mulligan, 64, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail after pleading guilty to abusing five teenage boys. He admitted buggery and sexual assault of three boys and indecent assault of another two boys on dates between 1989 and 2002. The offences took place while he was coaching the young men.

Mulligan had made some of his victims pray before and after the sex attacks, telling them it was 'God's Will'. One victim was taken back to his home for sports massages after training or before a fight. Others told how he prayed while abusing them.

During Mulligan's trial the court heard how he had lost his reputation and fame associated with boxing, how he became a serious alcoholic suffering from depression and how he had replaced that alcohol addiction with an obsessive interest in religion.