Long journey to justice

Tuam native waives anonymity to protect others

IT took Paul Grealish over two decades to be able to confide in somebody about the acts of indecent assaults done to him as a boy, but on Monday, he bravely told his story to those gathered in a courtroom in Galway city.

Mr Grealish had his talking already done by the time he walked down the steps outside Galway Courthouse afterwards.

A member of his legal team made a short statement to the small crew of assembled press, family members and friends gathered outside.

Mr Grealish listened on, arm in arm with his wife Mary, the first person he told, in 1995, about what had been done to him by his fourth-class schoolteacher over nine months in 1972 and 1973.

“I have waived my anonymity today to highlight what was done to me; to identify the perpetrator Thomas Caulfield, and to give hope and encouragement to others who have suffered similar abuse to seek support from family and friends – and the justice system – as I have done,” read the statement following the court proceedings...

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