Bláthnaid Raleigh tells her story in new book, ‘Aftermath’
‘Aftermath’ is raw, powerful and a truly devastating account of a system that left Bláthnaid Raleigh feeling forgotten, irrelevant and lost.
In July 2019, Bláthnaid Raleigh was enjoying a typical night out in Galway with friends and a few acquaintances from Mullingar. At the house party that followed, a night that had started like any other took a sinister turn when Jonathan Moran attacked and raped her.
Back in their hometown of Mullingar, Bláthnaid would spend the next five years living with the after effects of that night, she and her family left in limbo, wracked with uncertainty. Meanwhile, her attacker, unable to be identified for legal reasons, continued his life as if nothing had happened – working, socialising and playing rugby.
On July 1, 2024, Moran was sentenced to eight years in jail, without ever offering remorse. What would the verdict mean for Bláthnaid and the life that she was forced to put on hold? Would this be the day that the old Bláthnaid would re-emerge? Could it ever be that simple?
In her book, written with Niall Kelly, Bláthnaid asks, ‘Who am I? I was Bláthnaid. I still am. But it means something different now. I am who I am because of what someone else did to me. I am who I am because of someone else’s choice, someone else’s deliberate action, someone else’s conscious decision not to see me as a person – bright, ambitious, happy, full of life, friends and family – but to see me as a thing. No worth. No value. How a life can change in 15 or 20 minutes.’
In an Ireland that claims to be victim-centric, Bláthnaid’s words provide the ultimate and unequivocal victim impact statement.
About the authors
Bláthnaid Raleigh is a 27-year-old from Mullingar. She grew up in rural Ireland, as the youngest of three children. Bláthnaid is passionate about her career in education and is now looking for ways to bring her advocacy work into her day job.
Niall Kelly is the editor at The42.ie. He has co-authored numerous bestselling and award-winning sports memoirs, including The Choice with Philly McMahon, Fighter with Andy Lee, True Colours with Barry Geraghty and Life Begins in Leitrim with Zak Moradi.
Aftermath will be published by Gill Books on Thursday October, 2, priced at €18.99.
Local launch
A local launch of Aftermath takes place in The Village Barn, Tyrrellspass, on Tuesday September 30, 7-9pm, and the public are welcome.