Brueckner got my therapy notes... he could lust over the damage he caused

THE brave Irish woman who accused Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner of rape has told of the trauma of the convicted sex beast getting access to her therapy notes.

- PAUL HEALY

Hazel Behan told how her intimate discussions of over 12 years were handed over to the man she says raped her so he could prepare a defence.

Hazel was speaking as she stood alongside other survivors of abuse to demand an end to violence against women and a halt to the practice of counselling notes being used in trials.

Brave survivors Hazel, Natasha O'Brien and Rebecca Clarke are among those also calling for a protest in Dublin on November 25 to highlight the plague of gender-based violence.

Speaking to the media at a press conference highlighting the upcoming protest, the three women were joined by the Rosa Social Feminist Movement, which is organising the event, and TD Ruth Coppinger.

One of the major issues being highlighted is that the private counselling notes of victims continue to be used in criminal trials something that is deterring many from coming forward.

PRIVATE

Speaking to this paper about the issue, Hazel who accuses Madeleine McCann chief suspect Christian Brueckner of rape - told of how her therapy notes of over 12 years were used by the German rapist in his trial to undermine her.

"I didn't even realise what was happening when I was handing over my rights, my many years of counselling notes," Hazel said. "And just to say it doesn't matter if it's one month or 12 years like it was in my case.

"They're still your very own private thoughts. It was only when I realised, if I am being totally fair, during the trial process, there were things that were being brought to me and used against me in that process that nobody else could have known.

"They were essentially an assassination of my character.