A young woman who suffered a decade of abuse by a cruel stepmother spoke out ‘to help others’ saying ‘let the truth be known’

A young woman who suffered a decade of abuse at the hands of her cruel stepmother says she spoke out to help others.

Cora Desmond’s stepmother, Bridget Kenneally, was jailed for two years Tuesday after a court heard about the horrific catalog of beatings, mental cruelty and suffering the victim endured since the age of six.

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In reference to the Cinderella fairy tale, Kenneally, a part-time cleaner, called the schoolgirl “Cora-Ella” and told her that he neither loved her nor did he love her.

Cora was forced to clean the house and work without access to friends or playtime while the stepmother’s own children played outside with their friends.

Supermarket worker Cora, from Youghal, Co Cork, was hospitalized for a week after a head injury at the hands of the 49-year-old man.

She was also treated for a broken thumb inflicted when her hand was squeezed too hard.

When she was once examined by doctors, she had more than 50 bruises on her tiny body.

Cora was forced by the sadistic Kenneally to lie about how she received her injuries, leading people to believe that she was clumsy.

HELPING OTHERS

But Cora shared how she hopes that by telling her story she can help others affected by the abuse.

She said: “I know there are people who are going through horrible things, probably even worse than I endured.

“But if I can help a person by speaking, then it is something.”

To the abused he said: “You might think that no one will listen or believe you.

“But that person may be the one to help you. He may be the one to believe you, support you, and let the truth be known.”

“I received incredible support from the Gardaí. Sergeant Mark Ward was absolutely amazing.

“And when the gardaí began to investigate, the records of doctors and teachers were all there.”

HOME ABUSE

Cora was hit with a poker, vacuum hose, spatulas, and a variety of other implements, used as weapons against her after Kenneally entered an 11-year relationship with Cora’s father.

The abuse ended when Cora was 16 years old and she finally told her birth mother what was happening.

Cora said: “I was talking to my mother one night and I broke down. She didn’t know what had happened. We didn’t see much of my mother until I was in my teens.

“My mother had asked me when I was young if I was okay, but I kept saying I was okay. That’s what she told me to say.

“When I told her, my mother immediately called the Garda station and made an appointment to take me to see some officers.”

Her fears that they would not believe her were unfounded, as the Gardaí believed her and launched an investigation.

UNKNOWN DAD

Her father, who broke up with Kenneally after learning of the abuse, was unaware of what was going on.

She said: “My father only found out about the beatings when Gardaí contacted him. It was totally dark. He knew nothing about it and was totally distraught to find out.

“It was so well hidden. She was basically living a double life, a happy one at school and then a different person when she was at home for fear of what might happen to her. “

Cora said she was happy to have received some justice and that Kenneally is now in jail.

He said he doesn’t think she’s sorry for ruining her childhood.

Cora said: “I will never forgive her for what she did, but I did get some justice and she is locked up.

“Now I can get on with my life.”

Duncoran Youghal’s Kenneally was given a two-year jail sentence in Cork Circuit Criminal Court by Judge Sean O’Donnabhain on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Cora in Kenny’s Lane, Youghal in October 2009.

He was allowed to go ahead with that single charge on the condition that all facts were revealed to the court during sentencing.