Abuse survivor creates app to help others cope with trauma and addiction

Sarah Slater

A woman who waived her right to anonymity after her father was jailed for abusing her, has launched a new app around mental health.

Claire Smith (39) a mother of four, endured years of sexual abuse at the hands of her father. Years of trauma subsequently followed.

From Ravanny, Co Louth, she waived her right to anonymity in 2012 as her father, Seamus Byrne, then 55, pleaded guilty in Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court to sexually abusing her.

He was arrested by gardaí in 2010 and admitted to abusing Claire on three occasions between 1997 to 2001. Gardaí were informed by him that he would not be questioning anything she said, the court heard at the time.

He was sentenced to three years in prison and died in 2020. He had been in ill health at the time of his trial and died aged 63.

Ms Smith also wrote the book, Girl in the Shadows, about her experience and says she was eventually able to “forgive” her father for his actions.

She says her new mental health and addiction support app Hold On – We Got You, has been created to provide “connection for people navigating mental health challenges, addiction, trauma, grief, and life's many difficult moments.”

“This app was not created in a boardroom. It was born from lived experience. Like many people, I have experienced trauma, loss, heartbreak, and periods where simply getting through the day felt overwhelming.

“Through those experiences, I came to understand something powerful: sometimes the words that save us are the simplest ones such as ‘I understand”’ and ‘You're not alone.’”

Ms Smith says that understanding became the foundation of Hold On. The app brings together videos, blogs, recovery resources, guided support, playlists, and personal stories from people who have walked their own journeys of struggle, healing, and growth.

“This project has never been about having all the answers. It has always been about creating a space where people feel seen, heard, and supported.”