My childminder sold me for sex

A victim of multiple depraved and sick sex attacks as a child has revealed in vivid detail how she and other children were raped in houses in Maguiresbridge, Lisnaskea and outside Fivemiletown by up to at least 15 men as part of a suspected paedophile ring almost 20 years ago.
The ring, believed to have been managed by a highly regarded woman who looked after children, included well known men, businessmen, and people in positions of trust. All but one of her alleged abusers and the woman who arranged it are still alive and living in the county.
Emma (not her real name) says she was about four years old when the abuse began and has recalled in shocking detail how her innocence was cruelly taken away from her.
In a powerful interview with The Impartial Reporter this week the 24-year-old has claimed:
•      Her childminder organised, encouraged and was paid by men for these vile sex attacks – and watched them
•      How she passed out after being violently raped and, in another incident, almost smothered to death but was rescued by another child victim
•      How she and two other children were filmed being sexually abused by three men
•      How police “let her down” when she recounted her ordeal
She even told Lord Maurice Morrow, a former Fermanagh-south Tyrone MLA, who presented officers with a dossier of information plus photographs and names of the alleged abusers and ringleader.
Nobody has been arrested, charged or convicted for their part in this suspected paedophile ring which began at a house in Maguiresbridge, then at a house in Lisnaskea before ending up at a house outside Fivemiletown.
Using old photographs Emma has established that her abuse began when she was three or four years old after her parents sought the services of a childminder.
“A policewoman recommended this woman so my parents had no reason not to trust her. She started babysitting me when I was 10 months old.
“She showered me with love and attention, there were hugs, kisses. But she had a split personality.”
Emma remembers the clothes she was wearing at the time: the dress with pictures of cows printed on it, the blue square patterns, even the shoes she was wearing.
She remembers the layout of each of the homes the abuse took place. When her childminder moved to a new house, so too did the abuse.
The first house in Maguiresbridge, a two storey, had a stack of newspapers piled up inside, the shelves were covered in bottles. It was dark, there was no natural light and there was a damp smell.
In the second house in Lisnaskea she remembers walking through the front door with the dining room on the right and the sitting room on the left. There was an electric fire, a patterned rug, and green sofas.
“There was a strip of a kitchen with a cooker which was in the living room beside the kitchen, she used to hang her clothes above it, there would be socks on it. The line also became a card holder for birthday cards and sympathy cards when she had a bereavement,” said Emma.
 “At the top of the stairs on the left was the master bedroom where the abuse would later take place,” she said.
The third house was outside Fivemiletown where she was taken with another young boy to be abused together.
She recalls her childminder’s two personalities: her sweet, motherly approach when she was in company and the evil, monster who watched as children were sexually abused.
“It was only when the men were there and I would kick up a fight that she would turn on me. She had a really high-pitched voice and when she was angry she could really shout.
“One time she grabbed my hair and scored my scalp with her long nails.”
She told her family about her ordeal in 2012 when she was 17. When she was advised to go to police she feared about being quizzed on precisely what happened back then, as it would have been too traumatic. 
“I went to my GP; he has been brilliant and has supported me every step of the way. I talked to a social worker who said sending me to the police was not a viable situation at that time.”
During a period of counselling in 2012 her counsellor based in Omagh advised that she report the abuse to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. She is still receiving counselling. 
“I was very stressed, not wanting to go into a room with men to be quizzed and questioned about what happened. I was not emotionally ready for it, I was a mess.”
After receiving additional help from Nexus her Grandmother sought advice from Lord Maurice Morrow who raised the matter with the police, informing officers of the alleged abusers alongside Emma during a visit to Omagh Police Station in 2017.
But Emma says the response from the police was unsatisfactory, recalling the initial phone call from an officer.
“She was very blunt and very cold, she told me that if I made a proper statement she could not protect my anonymity.
“She said there was nothing stopping the abusers telling the world about me if they wanted and warned me that these men could turn up at my house if they wanted until they were charged.
“I was petrified so I didn’t want to speak to the police or give a statement. She also said I’d have to do an interview on my own, that I couldn’t bring my counsellor or a solicitor,” she said.
Emma said she was “knocked sideways” when police told her that they could not guarantee that the alleged abusers would stay away from her.
“I felt as if the law was on their side. The police said the men and woman need to know who was accusing them of these allegations. I didn’t feel secure by the police. There was no protection, no guarantees.
“After that I contemplated taking my own life,” she said. 
The PSNI could not proceed unless Emma made a statement. She is now ready to do that. “I will be making a statement to police because these people should be held accountable for their actions,” she said.
Emma’s loving family who have been distraught by what they have learned are supporting her in every way possible.
“They have taken away so much from her, things that she will never get back,” said her mother.
Her Grandmother described those responsible for such depravity as “pure evil”.
“This is my granddaughter and she is very precious, for somebody to harm her in this way… I wouldn’t have let a fly land on her head.”
Brave Emma may have lost part of her childhood but she is determined now more than ever to reclaim part of what she lost.
“The predators start by grooming the community then they groom the parents and finally when everyone is convinced of their moral integrity the child is finally groomed by which time they don’t stand a chance.
“To any other victim reading this, it wasn’t your fault. Get help. Some people don’t have the strength to go to the police but I hope other victims, like that other boy who saved my life, identify with my story and speak out.
Addressing the young boy who is now a man, Emma said: “I will always be forever grateful to the other boy who was abused with me. I owe my life to him,” she said.