Christopher Henaghan, solicitor, jailed for sexually abusing young girl for two years

A young woman sexually abused as a child has told the Gold Coast solicitor who harmed her she struggles to express “how much (her) life has been affected”. Here is what she had to say.

A young woman sexually abused as a child has told the Gold Coast solicitor who harmed her she struggles to express just “how much my life has been affected”.

The woman spoke in a quiet yet strong voice when she told her tormentor – Christopher Mathew Henaghan – what the years of abuse had done.

Henaghan, 62, pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Thursday to maintaining an unlawful relationship with a child.

The woman was a pre-pubescent child when she was sexually abused for more than two years by Henaghan.

“Trying to impart my feelings makes me feel anxious and traumatised,” she told the court in her victim impact statement.

“I don’t know where to start from … how do I or can I even express how much my life has been affected.”

She spoke about how the abuse had affected her family, how she had tried unsuccessfully as a child to speak up and how she wanted to ensure Henaghan did not target another child.

She also felt a “stigma” as a victim of sexual abuse and that she had been made to “feel bad” by her abuser and his supporters.

“I felt like I needed to show other girls within my culture and community that sexual abuse should be brought to light,” she said.

“It was because of these feelings, I need to get justice.”

She also spoke of her fears for the future.

“I don’t know how my relationships will be affected and this scares me,” she said.

The woman also spoke about how while Henaghan was appearing in court and working as a lawyer he was also committing crimes against her.

Former solicitor Chris Henaghan has been jailed for sexually abusing a child. Picture: Supplied

The court was told the woman came forward to her mother about the abuse in 2020 – years after it had taken place.

They confronted Henaghan via text and in response he admitted the abuse.

“My prayers are answered that this has come out as I have been living with guilt for too many years,” he wrote.

Henaghan also asked to meet the pair but they refused and went to police.

Judge Deborah Holliday sentenced Henaghan to five years’ prison to be suspended after he has served 20 months.

“It is an understatement to say this offending has had a profound negative effect,” she said.

“She said how she felt after telling friends … she did not know who to tell or who could save her.

“It was a gross abuse of trust.”

Crown prosecutor Christopher Cook said the girl had tried to tell others but she was doubted.

After that Henaghan told her not to tell others.

“At the time he was normalising the behaviour and thought that it caused no harm,” he said.

“This is offending that happened in secret.

Mr Cook said the girl’s innocence had been “stolen”.

Defence barrister Peter Trout said Henaghan had wished to give an apology but had been asked not to contact the girl or her family.

“He instructs me he is extremely remorseful and sorry for his actions and the effects it has had on the complainant and family,” he said.

“He expresses his extreme remorse to the family.”

Mr Trout said Henaghan, a New Zealand citizen who lived in Australia for more than 40 years, was likely to be deported when he finished his prison sentence.

He said Henaghan would appeal any decision to deport him.

The court was told Henaghan was the principal of the law firm John Woulfe Solicitors and had given up his practising certificate since the charges.

“He knows he will never practice again as a lawyer and it was a substantial part of his personality,” Mr Trout said.

He said Henaghan was “generous” and helped out in the community and people in need.

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Originally published as Christopher Henaghan, solicitor, jailed for sexually abusing young girl for two years