Brittany Hogan: Opening up about the abuse I suffered was a big weight off my shoulders

Ireland back-row is using her difficult experience and new resilience to help others

Brittany Hogan pictured during the Ireland team's captain's run at Musgrave Park yesterday. Photo: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Sinéad Kissane

Brittany Hogan was on the team bus travelling from Dublin to Belfast for a combined provinces game six weeks ago on the same morning that a deeply personal interview she gave was published. Five days previously, in her new role as ISPCC ambassador, Hogan spoke publicly for the first time about the sexual abuse she suffered as a young girl by someone she trusted.

Those days between doing the interview and the date of publication were “emotionally draining” for Hogan. She was ready and wanted to talk openly but also spent the days in between preparing for everyone else knowing. She had told one rugby team-mate about the abuse but no one else knew besides a few close friends and family.