Gisèle Pelicot’s daughter reveals emotional reason why she does not speak to her mother

Warning: This article contains discussion of rape and sexual assault which some readers may find distressing.

Gisèle Pelicot’s daughter has opened up about the emotional reason as to why she no longer speaks to her mother.

In a historical rape trial that shocked the world last year, Pelicot's husband, Dominique, admitted to drugging his wife of 50 years and mother of his children. He did so and assaulted his wife, as well as inviting strangers recruited onlineto do the same while he filmed the horrifying interactions before storing them on a hard drive labelled 'abuse'.

He was sentenced to 20 years behind bars for his sickening crimes, and all 50 co-defendants were also convicted, with no acquittals. Charges included rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault with sentences ranging from three to 15 years.

Alongside his heinous crimes against his wife, Dominique was also found guilty of taking indecent images of his daughter, Caroline Darian, as well as his daughters-in-law.

Caroline, who told the judge during the December trial last year that she is the 'forgotten victim in this case', has since opened up to The Telegraph in an exclusive interview published over the weekend (23 August) about the toll the case has taken on her and her mother's relationship.

Gisèle Pelicot’s daughter, Caroline Darian, has opened up about why she no longer speaks to her mother (SYLVAIN THOMAS/AFP via Getty Images)

Earlier this year, it was revealed that Caroline was pressing ahead with charges against her father, including accusing him of drugging and raping her - something which her mother reportedly didn't agree with, telling her: "Your father is incapable of such a thing."

"My mother let go of my hand in that courtroom," she shared, before claiming: "She abandoned me."

Caroline continued: "For four years, I accompanied my mum everywhere. I supported her without ever judging her. And it wasn’t always easy because she didn’t want to hear what I was telling her about Dominique.

"But in that courtroom, she was supposed to help me," she added, claiming that her mother was the only person who could convince her husband to confess.

"And that," she said, "I can never forgive her for. Never."

Explaining why she no longer speak to her mother, Caroline stated: "You know what my mum said to me a couple of times in the courtyard outside during the trial? ‘Stop making a spectacle of yourself.' A spectacle of myself?

"Right there is the difference between her and me."

Caroline explained why she will 'never' forgive her mother (CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU / Contributor / Getty Images)

Explaining how her mum was 'catapulted into the limelight' and 'became an icon', Caroline opened up about how her and her siblings were left 'really damaged'.

"There we were, back down on earth, with all these unanswered questions – and we are damaged. Really damaged. And we are alone," she said. "That’s the truth, but people have no idea.

"We no longer have a father or a mother, today."

Continuing to talk about the global impact of her mother's heartbreaking case, Caroline went on: "It’s great for my mum to preach the good word.

"You know that she got a letter from the Queen? Saying how wonderful she’d been? Yes, she was very touched by that. But I hope that one day she’ll look in the rear-view mirror and think: 'Sh*t. You know, I wasn’t where I should have been'."

She then tearfully added: "The difference between us is this: she chose to have Dominique Pelicot as a husband, but I didn’t choose to have him as a father. Do you see? So, for me the pain is two-fold."

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact the Rape Crisis England and Wales helpline on 0808 500 222, available 24/7. If you are currently in danger or need urgent medical attention, you should call 999.