Monday 21 July 2014

Sworn to Silence

Happy Monday to you!

Today, I'm delighted to help a Facebook friend - Philomena Callan  - who is helping to promote the recently published book of a friend of hers from Dundalk, Ireland. The account which is featured today is sadly a true one and is named -

Sworn to Silence
A Young Boy. An Abusive Priest. A Buried Truth.
By Brendan Boland, Darragh MacIntyre


One boy who bravely speaks up. A church determined to keep him silent. 
     Brendan was an eleven-year-old altar boy when he first met Father Smyth. When the abuse began, he didn't know what to do -- surely he should trust a priest? But he knew he wasn't the only victim, and his worst nightmare was that his sisters would be next. 
     It was three years before he plucked up the courage to tell another minister. An inquiry was quickly called, in which Brendan was sworn to secrecy. But the abuse didn't stop. Instead, Father Brendan Smyth continued to prey on other children for two more decades until he was finally convicted.
     This shocking memoir tells how, for years, a priest's abuse was ignored by the Catholic Church -- and how one brave small boy stood up for justice. 

   • Co-written with BBC investigative reporter Darragh MacIntyre, this is a powerful exposé of the Irish church

About the Author
BRENDAN BOLAND grew up in Dundalk, Co Louth, Ireland. Today he lives with his wife and childhood sweetheart Martina in the UK, where he works with a multinational media group.

DARRAGH MacINTYRE is an award-winning investigative reporter with BBC Panorama, as well as a published author. He was the reporter and the presenter of the BBC Panorama programme, The Shame of Catholic Church, broadcast in May 2012. Originally from Celbridge, County Kildare, Darragh now lives in Belfast with his wife and two daughters.

Get your copy via these buy links:


 
 
p.s. You'll find me out guesting at my friend Francine Howarth's blog. She's asked me some brilliant questions, but also surprised me today by adding her excellent 5* reviews for all 3 of my Celtic Fervour Series of historical adventures! Catch the post at   http://tgunwriter.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/the-interview-nancy-jardine-celticroman.html  (I really think she likes my writing *winks*)
 
 Slainthe! 

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