Daughter's love for abuse mother

Dana Fowley was subjected to years of horrific abuse

A woman who suffered years of sexual abuse orchestrated by her mother has revealed that she still loves her, despite her torment.

Dana Fowley, 27, spoke of the mixed emotions she felt at watching Caroline Dunsmore being jailed for her part in the abuse and that of another girl.

However, she hailed jail terms given to her abusers as a "victory" and said she hoped to put the ordeal behind her.

She waived her anonymity to encourage other abuse victims to come forward.

Dunsmore was sentenced to 12 years and John O'Flaherty to 13 at the High Court in Edinburgh for their part in the massive abuse case. Sentence on a third accused, Morris Petch, has been deferred.

Police said their investigations were continuing into other allegations.

Of course I realise that my mother had to be brought to justice, but as a daughter I love her and when I heard her getting sentenced today I was gutted Dana Fowley

Ms Fowley said: "Of course I realise that my mother had to be brought to justice, but as a daughter I love her and when I heard her getting sentenced today I was gutted.

"From the start, from when I was a child, my whole life has been hell. Going through the trial has been hell, and today has been hell.

"I was totally gutted with what my mum was given, but at the end of the day it was a justified sentence. It was a victory, all of the sentences that were handed out."

Ms Fowley said she did not know how she had survived the years of sexual abuse at the hands of the gang.

'Other victims'

She said she hoped others involved in the abuse would be brought to justice in the future, but said she wanted to move on with her life.

Ms Fowley added: "I will move on. Obviously this is the hardest of them but all the rest will be brought to justice as well.

"As a mother I am happy, but as a daughter I was gutted. It is hard to hold my emotions back.

"I came forward to show other victims that haven't come out in the hope that they will come out."