Unprotected: A Memoir

An accomplished artist and disability advocate, Ann takes us on a journey through her life, from the age of seven.

She was severely deaf due to being born with congenital Rubella, and in school found it difficult to read and engage with others. Her deafness lay undiagnosed until her twenties. Isolated and insecure as a teenager, she spent time in a psychiatric hospital where she was raped by a patient. At a later time and different place, she was sexually assaulted again, this time by a priest.

She attended the IADT art college in Dun Laoghaire and later went to London where she worked on the cult animated film, Watership Down. She eventually returned to Ireland where she worked as a fine artist and illustrator.

Her health deteriorated and in trying to find help, discovered that her pervious psychiatric history meant that she was met by a lack of sympathy and regard by doctors and consultants. It was later revealed that she and her twin sister Margaret both suffered from a rare neuromuscular disease. They were accepted onto the undiagnosed disease program in NIH Bethesda, USA, where the tests are still ongoing.