Sinéad O’Leary : Fighting Spirit

Trigger warning : Knife attack, Murder, PTSD.Sinéad O’Leary was only 19 when her life changed forever.She and her friend Nichola Sweeney, were getting ready to go out, when a neighbour (Peter Whelan) broke into Nichola’s home and attacked them both.Sinéad was stabbed 20 times and managed to survive the onslaught, while her friend Nichola unfortunately died, due to her wounds. In this conversation, Sinéad speaks about her friendship with Nichola, the night itself, the court case and how 19 years on, she doesn't feel safe or respected by the state. It is without a doubt, the most affecting podcast I’ve ever recorded. * Further viewing - TG4 documentary Finné, Series 3 Episode 4 which is still available on the TG4 playerSome extra points from Sinéad….‘My overall experience is that there has been a lack of duty and care for victims throughout the process. A process which I have found to be inhumane and negligent. I was a State Witness in a murder trial but once I had testified against Peter Whelan, I felt completely disposable. When his numerous appeals were launched I would learn of same only through media outlets. I learned about his day releases, parole hearings and sentence remission from a journalist in 2019. Parole hearings which were unconstitutional, which he was not legally entitled to. These revelations shocked me to the core. Only now that I have made a concerted effort to seek the truth, have I been given the right to receive updates of parole hearings and upcoming day releases. It shouldn’t be this hard for victims. After Prime Time aired in 2019 no accountability was taken by the department of justice with regard to the gross mishandling of Peter Whelan's sentence management. I was assured by the then Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan, that the new Parole Act would give much needed and increased rights to victims. That the minimum term for parole eligibility for lifers would be increased from 7 to 12 years. I was made to believe, time and time again, that the act would apply retrospectively to Peter Whelan. This would mean that he would only be entitled to a parole hearing when he had served the minimum of 12 years for Nichola's murder and therefore wouldn’t eligible for a parole hearing until 2025. Yet here we are today, the Parole Act is still not in place and another parole hearing is imminent for Whelan. Despite reassurances, I am yet again in limbo. Nicholas family and I have have been tremendously let down and neglected by the state again. As have many other families who have been thrust into the harrowing and frightening parole process a mere 7 years into the life sentences of their loved ones killers.I was invited to submit a Victim Impact Statement for the latest parole hearing; my first invitation after 19 years. This is welcome in written form only. I am not allowed to address the Parole Board in person nor is there someone to advocate on my behalf. My attacker will have full access to my statement; my fears and vulnerabilities will be fully exposed. When the new act is finally established there willbe a prisoners rights advocate from a non government body appointed to the board to advocate for him. I have been fighting for the introduction of a Victims Advocate to the Parole Board in order to address this imbalance. My attacker will have psychologists, prison staff, lawyers and others to speak on his behalf. My voice and the voices of Nicholas family members willbe constrained to a written statement There will be no one there to advocate for us.Victims should be involved in this process. Their ongoing pain and suffering needs to be acknowledged and addressed. It is those who are bereaved by homicide who serve the real life sentences. Their human rights need to be accounted for. I cannot emphasise this enough. The scales of justice need to be rebalanced.’

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