Irish Ambassador contacts teen allegedly raped by Swiss SVP politician
Patrick Frei (57), a former Swiss People's Party politician, faces rape and attempted murder charges after allegedly drugging an Irish girl, then 14, over 15 months.
Irish Ambassador reaches out to teen allegedly abused by Swiss politician Patrick Frei
Ireland's Ambassador to Switzerland, Aoife McGarry, contacted a 14-year-old Irish girl — known as Paula — by email and phone on Thursday, the Irish Times reports, after the outlet published an interview with Paula and her mother Iwona detailing alleged repeated sexual abuse by Swiss politician Patrick Frei (57).
The alleged abuse took place over a 15-month period beginning in 2022, when Paula and Iwona, a Polish national, moved into Frei's home in Switzerland after he and Iwona entered a relationship. Frei was at the time a member of the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) and held a government position in the canton of Aargau.
Iwona told the Irish Times she discovered Frei leaving Paula's room with a camera one night and immediately called police. Officers arrested Frei and, during their search, recovered dozens of video files allegedly depicting him raping and sexually abusing Paula. Evidence of alleged abuse of Iwona was also found.
Prosecutors allege Frei administered so-called "date rape drugs" to incapacitate both women before the incidents. He now faces multiple counts of rape, sexual assault and related charges, as well as a charge of attempted murder in connection with the alleged drugging. His lawyer has said Frei disputes large portions of the case, including the allegation that he drugged the victims. Swiss prosecutors noted he is innocent until proven guilty.
Following Frei's arrest in 2023, Swiss authorities moved to deport Paula and Iwona, arguing that Iwona's employment contract — under which she worked as Frei's housekeeper — was bogus. Authorities also withheld full social welfare payments from the women and opened a criminal investigation against Iwona after Frei alleged she had stolen items from his home. That investigation was later dropped.
Paula had previously sought help from the Irish Embassy in Bern, but said she was dissatisfied with the response. "That broke my heart a little bit," she said, after embassy officials told her they were unable to intervene in legal proceedings. A Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman confirmed to the Irish Times that it is aware of the case and has provided consular assistance.
In her email to Paula on Thursday, Ambassador McGarry wrote: "I wanted to write to you to say that I am very sorry to hear that you are upset with the support the embassy has provided you with." She shared her mobile number and asked whether the women have access to lawyers and support counsellors, adding that the embassy would remain in contact ahead of Frei's trial, scheduled for February.
Earlier this month, a Swiss appeal court overturned the deportation order against Paula and Iwona and granted them full social welfare payments. Swiss authorities also announced an independent investigation into the treatment of the two women by officials. Frei has since resigned from his position in the canton of Aargau and from the SVP.
Source: Irish Times