HANDBAGS AT DAWN:

HANDBAGS AT DAWN: Ireland AM Meets Judge Judy as Kathy O'Beirne Fights Back at Her Critics

by Alan Sherry, Irish Daily Mail, Wednesday 7 November 2007

It could have been straight from the Gerry Springer Show or Judge Judy. The two sisters squared up to each other, writhing with pent-up emotion, spitting vitriol.

The "partners" of writer Kathy O'Beirne and her sister Mary, were also invited on to TV3.

They were only too eager to jump in with their opinions on the bitter internecine feud sparked by Kathy's best-selling book, cataloging years of abuse at the hands of their father - and vehemently denied by Mary. The 'discussion' though quickly degenerated into mud-slinging and from there it was all downhill as guests launched a paper assault on each other.

But unlike the Springer Show there were no bouncers at hand - and TV presenter Mark Cagney had to think on his feet and promptly cut to an ad break. The guests continued to argue off-air.

On the one side of the Ireland AM discussion was Kathy O'Beirne flanked by journalist Michael Sheridan who ghost wrote her book, "Kathy's Story". Since its publication in 2005, Katy's family has denied her allegations. On the other side of the ring (sorry sofa), was Mary accompanied by author Hermann Kelly, whose newly released book ["Kathy's Real Story"], written with the co-operation of Kathy's family, attempts to shred "Kathy's Story".

They were all invited on the breakfast show to debate the issue.

The interview began with Mary accusing Mr Sheridan of trying to ruin her memories of her father.

"My father was not a monster Michael Sheridan - I will stand up here and stand up for my father until the very end."

Mr Sheridan asked: "Do you deny there was sexual abuse and rape in your family"?

"My father was not a monster. I deny everything", said Mary.

Kathy then challenged Mary to take a lie detector test.

"I already did", replied Mary before Kathy retorted: "No you didn't.... No you didn't.... No you didn't".

Mary then said she was suffering harassment since the book was published.

The interview got more heated with Mr Kelly defending Father Fergal O'Connor who he described as an innocent man against whom Kathy made allegations of abuse. Father O'Connor was a well known priest who often appeared on the Late Late Show. He died in 2005.

At this stage Mr Sheridan raised his hand and Mr Kelly moved to brush it away. Presenter Sinead Desmond was forced to intervene. "Guys, come on ... Let's be adults here she said.

When Mr. Kelly put it to Kathy that she made allegations against Fr O'Connor she replied: "Will you just shut up?"

When Ms. Desmond asked Kathy if she had ever made allegations against Fr O'Connor, she denied it saying: "I never accused the man of sexual abuse and rape". Mr Kelly then said he had documentary evidence that Kathy claimed Fr O'Connor abused her.

At this point Mr Sheridan said that legal proceedings will be taken over claims made in Mr Kelly's book.

Both sides had reams of documentation with them and at one stage when Hermann went to take one of his documents back, Kathy thought he was trying to take hers. She jumped up and tried to stop him and then started to hit him over the head with sheets of paper.

The presenters tried to get Kathy to sit down.

"Stop now.. woh.. woh," said Cagney.

Kathy began screaming: "Don't you dare hit me.. how dare you.. he's taking my stuff, Mick."

TV3 producers decided to cut to a commercial break but the argument continued off air, before the parties went their separate ways.