Limerick sex abuse victim speaks out after ‘evil’ stepfather is freed from prison

A LIMERICK woman said she “will die on the spot” if she sees the man - who was jailed for raping and sexually abusing her -after he was released from prison this month.

Paedophile Michael Moloney, aged 47, of Sycamore Drive, Bruff, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in October of 2018 with the final two-and-a-half years suspended for the sex attacks on Jenni Prunty. She said he sent her a “creepy” card while in custody.

In 2022, Moloney was sentenced to a further six years for sexually abusing another stepdaughter - Chloe Shinnors - in a separate case.

Jenni, who waived her anonymity so Moloney’s identity could be revealed, was sexually abused from the age of 11 to 17. Moloney was in a relationship at the time with Jenni’s mother.

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After the Irish Mirror reported that Moloney was out of prison and had returned to Limerick, Jenni told the Leader she will be looking over her shoulder wherever she goes.

“In 2022, he sent me an Easter card saying that he loves me, he misses me, he couldn't wait to see me. He clearly didn't forget about me while he was in there. He did that while he was in jail so what's actually stopping him now that he is out? One million per cent I’ll be looking over my shoulder,” said Jenni, who is aged in her late 20s and resides in County Limerick.

The young mum is angry that she learned of Moloney’s release from a reporter.

“Nobody told me. Fair enough, I've changed my phone number over the years but why couldn’t they write or call to my address -  it's not like they couldn't find me. 

“It's a bad state of affairs when the news reporter (Paul Healy) can find out and I can't. I was shocked because I was in Limerick city on the previous Sunday with my children and my husband.  

“What if he (Moloney) was actually in the shopping centre while I was there, staring at me,” said Jenni.

The Irish Mirror has reported that Moloney (picture below courtesy of the Irish Mirror) is living in homeless accommodation in Limerick city after presenting to services.

Jenni spoke to the Leader to warn others about Moloney. 

“He took my childhood away from me - not one but two children’s childhoods. He's just an evil, evil man. I was afraid of my life of going out and enjoying my life when I was growing up. 

“I have to live with this for life, whereas he served less than eight years - where is the justice in that?” asks Jenni.

“It took me a long time, and I mean a long time, to be around another man. 

“I did live in fear with regards to what if a man just came up to me. It literally ruined my whole entire outlook on men. 

“It took me a long, long time to even trust my husband and he's a gentle soul. It just baffles me the way that there's men out there that are actually pure and utter evil and then there’s my husband who is the gentlest man in the whole world,” she continued.

Jenni said she has got on with her life as best she could, leaving for Australia at the conclusion of the court case.

“I got married, I've had kids, my life is good but now it's a case of it's all back up in a shambles knowing that he's out,” she concluded.