Victoria Tweed, daughter of former Ireland rugby player David Tweed, waived her right to anonymity this week to reveal she suffered years of sexual abuse from her father.
David Tweed died in a crash in Antrim a week ago.
Tweed played rugby for Ireland four times in the 1990s. He then became a politician in Northern Ireland.
In 2012 a jury found him guilty of 13 counts of indecent assault, gross indecency with a child and inciting gross indecency with a child. Tweed later had the conviction quashed.
Now that Tweed is dead, his daughter has come forward to reveal herself as one of Tweed's victims. She confirms that he abused both of his daughters.
She told the Sunday World:
"Davy Tweed wasn't a man. He was a monster and it's time everyone knew," she said.
"People say he was a great rugby player and brilliant unionist politician. But to me, he was the dark shadow who entered my bedroom every night to abuse me.
"To think he attended my birth and held me in his arms knowing that at some stage in the future he was going to abuse me, is sickening,"
Tweed's funeral took place on Monday. His daughter did not attend. Instead, she celebrated his passing and is thankful that he can no longer abuse anyone else. Tweed reportedly abused two of his daughters and the Sunday World spoke to another woman who was abused by him when she was eight years old.
Victoria Tweed spoke out because of the praise her father received after his death.
"The person who was supposed to be my protector was coming into my bedroom every night to abuse me. It was when I was having my own baby I began to get flashbacks about what happened. I went to the police and made a statement, but I didn't feel strong enough to go through a court case.
"I grew up and moved away and that helped me. But I always knew I wanted to speak out for the sake of others.
"People try to make out Davy Tweed was a great man - a great rugby man and a great unionist politician - but he wasn't. He was a paedophile."
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre operates a 24/7 helpline. You can call them on 1800 77 8888. Their services are free and confidential. You can also email [email protected] or visit their website to chat.
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