Coleen Nolan Reveals Family Trauma and Lingering Guilt on Loose Women
During Tuesday's episode of ITV's Loose Women, Coleen Nolan opened up about the devastating abuse her sister suffered at the hands of their father, Tommy Nolan, and why she continues to wrestle with guilt today. The 60-year-old panelist returned to the show alongside Kaye Adams, Lisa Riley, and Janet Street Porter to discuss current headlines, which led to a deeply personal conversation about family trauma.
Triggered by Gisèle Pelicot's Interview
The discussion began with the panel reflecting on an interview that aired earlier that morning, where ITV co-star Lorraine Kelly spoke with Gisèle Pelicot, 73. Gisèle revealed the heart-wrenching questions she has for her husband after he destroyed their family with monstrous sexual assaults. This poignant segment prompted Coleen to share her own family's painful history.
Coleen told the panel: "When I got later into my 20s, I found out things about my dad and what had gone on there. I won't go into specifics, but things had happened." She expressed admiration for Gisèle's strength and protective nature toward her daughter, noting how such situations force family members to shield each other.
The Complex Emotions of Guilt and Love
Coleen elaborated on the emotional turmoil she experiences, explaining how the abuse has affected those outside the direct victims. "What you do forget about is how it does effect the people outside of who it happened to," she said. She recounted a moment of self-doubt, questioning whether her father's love was genuine, which led to feelings of guilt because she was not personally abused.
Kaye Adams probed further, asking if Coleen ever doubted the allegations. Coleen responded firmly: "No, funnily enough, there were people that did, that had never seen that side of him outside of the family. Other family members that lived back in Ireland, there was a lot of 'I don't believe it, I don't believe it'. I actually did believe it because I knew it wouldn't be said unless it was true." She emphasized her support for survivors who bravely come forward, often after years of silence.
A Father's Dual Nature
Janet Street Porter highlighted the complexity of the situation, noting that Coleen's father was perceived as a wonderful dad by some, similar to Gisèle's husband. Coleen acknowledged this duality, saying: "It is really hard to say, like I do, I loved my dad, he was a great dad as far as I was concerned. I had issues with him about drink, but other than that, he was great. But you feel guilty saying it."
She revealed that her family rarely discusses her father, and she avoids posting about him on social media to avoid disrespecting those he hurt. "I've only recently put a picture up of me and my dad and mum from when I was little. I feel I am being disloyal to other members outside of it," she confessed.
Historical Context and Sister Anne's Ordeal
Coleen previously spoke about the sexual assault her sister Anne suffered at the hands of their father on the show back in 2018. Tommy Nolan, who died in 1998, sexually abused Anne and was violent towards the sisters and their late mother. Coleen explained that Anne regretted not confronting him before his death, as she wanted to protect the family.
She said at the time that her sister felt Tommy had "gotten away with it" because he never faced accountability. Coleen, along with her sisters and mother, was regularly beaten from an early age by Tommy, a singer. She discovered in her 20s that he had assaulted Anne, but her older sister chose not to confront him on his deathbed to avoid upsetting the family.
Coleen reflected: "For me, there was so much anger when he died, there was more anger when he died than when he was alive. She felt like he got away with it. I think she should have, even when he was ill, said 'I'll always remember what you did and I won't forgive you,' and that would have released her pain."
The Lasting Impact of Abuse
After the family moved from Dublin to Blackpool in 1962, Tommy began abusing Anne. She was kept off school due to illness, leaving her alone with her father and younger sister Bernadette. The abuse started with inappropriate touching and became a regular occurrence while her mother was at work.
In 2008, Anne wrote about the enduring effects: "My father may have invaded my body, but he also invaded my mind. I'm now in my late 50s, and yet, to this day, no recollection of my childhood can ever be carefree. It has a contaminating effect that seeps into every corner of your mind, every facet of your life. It doesn't go away, and the slate can never be wiped clean."
Coleen concluded by relating to Gisèle's interview, describing the emotional aftermath as a "mind field of emotions" that can take years to navigate. She emphasized that healing is possible but requires time and finding a middle ground within fractured family dynamics.
