Avondu reporter Ellen Lynch, has been in the news of late, as the author of a book on the life and high profile courtcase involving Fiona Doyle, whose father was jailed in January for sexually abusing her over a ten year period when she was a child.

Fiona Doyle, from Bray but now living in North Wexford, hit the headlines in January when her father was first released on bail in a highly controversial move by Judge Paul Carney. Just days later and following a public outcry, he revoked bail, leaving her father Patrick O'Brien to serve the three year jail sentence he had earlier imposed.

Ellen, a former journalist and broadcaster in Co. Wexford, was approached by Fiona Doyle to write a book telling the story of her life long before the case came to court. "After meeting and talking at length to Fiona I felt hers was a story that deserved absolutely to be told and heard," Ellen says. She worked with Fiona for 18 months on the book, leaving the final chapters until after the court case in January.

"That week was such a tumultuous one. Fiona had waited a long time to see her father held accountable for what he did to her. It was a long and anxious wait. When finally it came on that Monday in early January there was to be no satisfaction for her, rather the reverse. Firstly Judge Carney suspended nine years of the 12 year jail term he'd imposed. Then he released her father on bail," Ellen explains. "The days that followed were amazing. There was such a public outcry at the outcome and people took to social media to make their feelings known. Lobby and advocacy groups came out strongly in the media criticising the judge's actions. The matter was even raised on the floor of the Dail. By the Thursday of that same week the matter was back in the Central Criminal Court where Judge Carney revoked bail and apologised to Fiona, something that is unprecedented in Irish legal history."

The book, 'Too Many Tears' published by Penguin, was launched in Dublin on Thursday night last and has already climbed to number four in the Irish non-fiction bestseller list.

"There's been huge interest in the book and in Fiona," Ellen says. "Some people have said to me that while they really admire her courage and bravery in relinquishing her anonymity to go public on what is a very difficult subject, they would find it hard to read the book. I'd say to them that yes, it is an uncomfortable subject, but it is also a searingly honest account of Fiona's life and the affect the abuse has had on all areas of her life. There's also a lot more to her story than the abuse. She's a most interesting woman who has done a lot of different things. It is an upliftng and inspiring tale of resilience, determination and shows how indomitable the human spirit can be. It is, ultimately, an inspirational story of a remarkable woman and proof that good can overcome evil."

Ellen accompanied Fiona to the Rehab People of the Year Awards in Citywest, Dublin recently where Fiona received an award for her courage in speaking out. She was also with her at last Friday night's Late Late Show in Dublin. It was their second time to feature on the show, in late January both were interviewed by Ryan Tubridy about the court case and the book.

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