Breda O’Brien, the wife of convicted rapist Patrick O’Brien, presented herself to Shankill Garda Station today and was detained there for questioning in relation to the abuse of her own daughter.
The arrest follows new details that surfaced during the investigation of crimes committed by Mr. O’Brien.
Fiona has always maintained that her mother was aware all along of the abuse she suffered at the hands of Mr. O’Brien, who has indeed pleaded guilty to a string of sexual offences against his daughter, and has had his sentence tripled by a Court of Appeal earlier this year. He had initially been sentenced to 12 years with 9 suspended, but was then granted bail by Mr Justice Paul Carney on the basis that the case was fit for an appeal.
Ms. Doyle was abused from the age of three, and wrote to Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan last January to ask her for an investigation into her mother’s alleged role in the abuse.
It is understood that Breda O’Brien was released without charge in the late afternoon today, and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.