Maureen Kearney

Maureen Kearney is an Irish whistleblower, a teacher of English, and trade unionist at Areva. A union official of the CFDT, she was elected secretary of the European group committee of Areva in 2004. Later she alerted the press and politicians to the existence of a secret contract involving technology transfers to China. On the morning of December 17, 2012, Kearney's home was broken into, after which she was bound, beaten and sexually assaulted. She was then left tied up in the basement of her home. She was later found alive by her cleaning lady. In the months following her assault, Kearney was subjected to brutal police custody. She admitted to making up the story and withdrew her complaint of "kidnapping, violence with a weapon and rape". She was accused of making up the story and charged and convicted of fabrication. Later she explained her confession by saying that her daughter and grandchild were threatened. She was subsequently cleared of the charge of fabrication.