Trial of abuser was ‘hardest thing’ man had to do

The victim of a Jersey-based sexual abuser has spoken to encourage others to speak up.

Alan Murphy was abused when he was as young as three by his cousin, Darren Dowling (48), who later moved to to Jersey, where he had worked as a DJ.

The offending took place in Ireland, and Dowling was extradited from Jersey to face the charges.

The abuse continued for years, and Dowling was sentenced in the Dublin Central Criminal Court last year to four years’ imprisonment.

Speaking to the Sunday World, Mr Murphy said Dowling’s trial was “the hardest thing I ever had to do”.

Now, Mr Murphy has said that he went through years of suffering as a result of the abuse, but that he eventually went to the Irish police, the Gardaí, in 2018.

He described turning to drink and drugs in his early teens, feeling “sick and angry”, and trying to take his own life.

He said: “Things have settled down a little bit. But the head stuff is there forever, it doesn’t go away.”

“Even when he went into prison last year, I thought it would be easier, but it doesn’t get any easier. It just screws my whole head altogether.”

Despite his ordeal, Mr Murphy said that in later life he realised the importance of speaking out.

“It was only in later life when I had my own kids and how the thought of anyone hurting them made me feel that I had to get my life together. I want my boys to know never to be afraid to tell the truth.”