Megan O'Brien, 26, from Doncaster, has spoken out about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her step-grandfather Paul Mundy, which began when she was seven years old. The abuse started in 2007 after she banged her head at school and Mundy picked her up, claiming he would help her shower. He then began touching her inappropriately.
Abuse in plain sight
The abuse continued for years, often while she sat on his knee watching Coronation Street. Mundy would put his hand down her pyjama bottoms in front of her family without them knowing. Megan said: 'I still struggle if Coronation Street is on TV, it sends me straight back to when I was sat on his knee.'
Mundy, 71, was jailed for 31 years earlier this year after being found guilty of 24 counts of rape and sexual assault against four women. Seven counts of sexual assault were against Megan. At its worst, the abuse happened at least twice a week.
Realisation and reporting
Megan only realised Mundy's actions were wrong when she started dating someone at age 15. She went to the police at 20. In September 2020, while at university in Leicester, she told her mum Julie Wright, 57, who supported her decision to report the abuse.
The Crown Prosecution Service initially said there was not enough evidence, but Megan persisted. Eventually, three other women came forward, and Mundy was charged and convicted. He was jailed on May 15.
Impact and healing
Megan said: 'He dictated my life for over a decade, and I am glad it is no more.' She now waives her right to anonymity to encourage other victims to speak out. She is in a relationship and is 'healing and learning' that not everyone acts as her step-grandfather did.
