Inès Chatin’s decades of silence: 10 years of sexual violence (3/6) rue du Bac

Inès Chatin finally broke her decades-long silence and filed a complaint with the Juvenile Office, detailing the sexual violence she suffered at the hands of a group of powerful men close to her adoptive father, Jean -François Lemaire. This investigation has now lasted for eight months, shedding light on the traumatic childhood she experienced thirty-five years ago.

Growing up, Inès buried most of her emotions deep within herself. She was forced to remain stoic, hiding the pain she endured as her attackers raped her with objects. She suffered in silence to protect her mother, Lucienne, from the disturbing cycle of abuse that tormented their family. In their closed world, a perverse pattern emerged: Jean-François Lemaire, their adoptive father and doctor, attacked his wife to fuel guilt and control over his two children – Inès and his older adoptive brother.

Inès remembers very well the night when Lemaire pushed her down the grand staircase of their house at 97 rue du Bac. Trapped in this cycle, she was only able to explore her roots and confront her past after Lucienne’s death in May 2021. “It took the death of my mother for her to finally be safe. Otherwise, I probably would have stayed silent,” she whispers. Furthermore, having been a direct victim of her father’s closest friends, with whom she continued to interact as an adult – some even attended his wedding in 1997 – she remained psychologically linked to them.

Nearly thirty-five years later, Inès struggles to recount the most graphic scenes of her childhood. During the sixty hours of interviews conducted by Libération, she reluctantly shared the poignant details of her past. It was a difficult journey for her to come to terms with the trauma and speak out against the abusers who had tormented her for so long.

Inès Chatin’s courage to speak out after years of silence highlights the ever-present issue of sexual violence and abuse. Her story reminds us of the lasting impact of trauma and the importance of breaking the cycle of silence and shame. It is a testament to the resilience of survivors who find the strength to seek justice and reclaim their voices, even after decades of suffering in silence.