An Irishwoman allegedly raped by Madeleine McCann murder suspect Christian Brueckner has welcomed the chance to finally face him in court.
Hazel Behan was speaking after the predator, 45, was charged with a string of sex offences. German cops yesterday charged Brueckner, who has also been convicted of sexually abusing a child in 1994, with sexual assaults on three more women including Ms Behan.
His lawyer said the charges are based on “dubious witnesses and video evidence no one has been able to find”. Brueckner, the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine, is accused of forcing his way into Ms Behan’s flat in Praia da Rocha in 2004 and raping her at knife point.
Read more: Madeleine McCann suspect charged over rape of Irish woman
Ms Behan, who previously waived her anonymity, told the Spanish news site The Olive Press: “I am delighted that after many hours and days of interviews in Ireland and Germany I am finally going to see justice, It was very hard and gruelling going back over the attack, having to spend over 20 hours with detectives in Ireland and then three days with police in Germany. But the specific dedicated teams in both countries were so sensitive and good at taking me back to that night.”
The mother-of-three said: “I always said my attacker was a German with piercing blue eyes and a voice I would recognise immediately. When Brueckner’s name was released in connection to the Madeleine case and to the rape of that poor woman Diana Menkes, I knew it was him.
“I knew I had to speak out and help the police. My family were behind me 100%. In fact, it was my brother who had spotted it first on RTE and sent me a link. The minute I saw it, I was certain he was my attacker. It made me sick to the core.
“Until that day I knew I had to bury it. I knew I had zero chance of justice, but thanks to all of the campaigning and the perseverance of Madeleine’s amazing parents, today, 18 years after my rape, I have an opportunity to see my attacker behind bars.
“I just wish I could have got the Portuguese police to do their actual jobs at the time, as if they had, Diana would not have been raped, and Madeleine would be alive today. And maybe others,” she added. Ms Behan went on to say that the past number of years have taken their toll on her.
“It’s been a very tough two years with all the media attention and stress of bringing it all up again. I had to leave my job, a great job as a secretarial assistant in Sinn Fein and I won’t deny I’ve been in a very dark place. Her lawyer Darragh Mackin, added: “It is amazing it has taken Hazel so many years to get justice. We are confident German police are mounting a strong and credible case.” Ms Behan previously described in detail the ordeal she suffered saying: “I was awoken by someone calling my name.
Read more: Parents of Madeleine McCann lose legal battle over Portuguese detective’s remarks
“I turned on to my back and standing there was a masked man dressed in tights and what resembled a leotard, a machete around 12in long in his hand. It seemed he had worked everything out. He had a plan and was very deliberate. He consistently cleaned his hands, and repeatedly changed condoms. This went on for four or five hours.
“When he was finished, he took me down from the counter, but I could not stand up because of the ropes digging into the backs of my legs. He wanted me to perform a certain act on him which I just couldn’t, I was gagging. He got angry and ordered me into the bathroom and he picked up the machete. I was convinced he was going to kill me”
In an interview with the Guardian in 2020, Ms Behan said: “My hands were still tied behind my back and he leaned me over a small bench and put a sheet over my head. I thought that was it, my life was over. But underneath the sheet I watched as he backed out of the door, put on his shoes and ran away.”
Another rape charge is believed to be a pensioner in her 70s who was attacked in her holiday apartment. It’s alleged Brueckner savagely beat the elderly woman with a whip while recording the harrowing rape on camera. The third rape charge alleges he tied a minor to a wooden post at his home in Praia da Luz before forcing her to perform a sex act.
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