For two women in Ireland, the act of sharing their histories of childhood sexual abuse was intended to be a path toward healing and a warning to others. Instead, it became a secondary trauma. They trusted a man who presented himself as a professional journalist and a legal ally, only to discover that the man who co-authored their life stories is a convicted child sex offender currently serving a prison sentence.
The women, identified only as Lorraine and Portia for legal reasons, are now locked in a battle with Amazon, the global e-commerce giant. Despite providing evidence that they were duped into collaborating with the author and highlighting his conviction for the sexual assault of a nine-year-old girl, Amazon has refused to remove the books from its platform. The company’s stance has left the women feeling “retraumatised,” as the predator who exploited their trust continues to potentially profit from their pain.
The man at the center of the controversy is Edward White, also known by his original name, John O’Loughlin. A former hypnotist and sketch artist, White cultivated a persona of authority and journalistic integrity to gain access to vulnerable individuals. He falsely claimed to be a journalist for The Sunday Times and asserted he had worked for the Irish national broadcaster, RTÉ—claims both organizations have since denied.
A Pattern of Deception and Grooming
The manipulation began with Lorraine in 2018, when White moved into a house beside her. Having already filed a complaint with the Gardaà (Irish police) regarding her own abuser, Lorraine was targeted by White, who promised he could use his supposed influence and legal knowledge to get her case reopened. He accompanied her to the police station and secured meetings with senior officers, further cementing the illusion that he was a powerful ally.
White convinced Lorraine that a formal contract was unnecessary because they were neighbors. He promised her that once their book, Little Lorraine – A Terrible Secret, was published, he would secure her an appearance on The Late Late Show, Ireland’s most famous talk show. When the book was released in 2021, White had Lorraine help him sell copies to her own friends for €30 each. While the books “flew out the door,” Lorraine reports that White kept nearly all the proceeds, paying her a total of only €200.
The deception extended to Portia, who discovered White through a “Justice for Lorraine” Facebook page. Unbeknownst to her, White controlled the page himself. After Portia expressed interest in writing her own story of abuse, White demanded €6,000 to ghostwrite her book. Despite receiving disability payments and lacking the funds, Portia managed to pay him over €3,000 under a brand White called “StoryKinds.”
Although a one-page contract specified a 50 percent royalty split for the resulting book, The Proposal from Hell, Portia says she never received a cent. Instead, she describes being “pestered” and treated “horribly” by White when she could not pay the remaining balance of his fee.
Beyond the Books: The ‘Editorialz’ Persona
The exploitation of these women was not an isolated incident, but part of a broader pattern of dishonesty and aggression. Under the online handle “Editorialz” on X (formerly Twitter), White amassed more than 20,000 followers. His digital footprint was characterized by personal attacks on government ministers and posts that frequently veered into racism and abuse.
His professional history is equally fraught. Before adopting the name Edward White, John O’Loughlin faced complaints from women regarding his hypnosis stage shows. Hervé Jaubert, a former French spy, revealed that he had hired White to edit a book about his efforts to free Princess Latifa of Dubai. Jaubert eventually removed the book from sale after discovering “gross discrepancies, inflated accounts and sexualised content” that he claimed were unethical and dishonest.
The following table outlines the timeline of White’s activities and the subsequent legal fallout:
| Year | Event / Action | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | White moves next to Lorraine. begins grooming process. | Builds trust through false professional claims. |
| 2019 | Co-authors book with Hervé Jaubert. | Book later unpublished due to “unethical” content. |
| 2021 | Publication of Little Lorraine – A Terrible Secret. | White retains majority of sales revenue. |
| 2021-22 | Portia pays €3,000+ for The Proposal from Hell. | Book published; Portia receives no royalties. |
| 2023 | Convicted in Tullamore Circuit Court. | Sentenced to 3.5 years for assaulting a 9-year-old. |
Amazon’s Corporate Impasse
The current conflict centers on the ethics of digital distribution. Lorraine and Portia have contacted Amazon directly, explaining that they were defrauded by a convicted sex offender who posed as a journalist to steal their stories and money. They argue that allowing the books to remain on sale not only allows a predator to profit but also risks attracting other vulnerable victims who might see the books as a sign of White’s legitimacy.
Amazon’s response, however, has been clinical. A spokesperson for the company stated: “This is a dispute between an author and individuals referenced in the author’s book and can only be addressed directly between the parties.”
This response treats the situation as a civil contractual dispute rather than a matter of safety or exploitation. For the women involved, the distinction is meaningless. “I personally feel I’ve been victimised all over again—emotionally raped,” Portia told The Irish Times, noting that her mental health has deteriorated and she is now dependent on medication to manage her anxiety.
The Sunday Times has confirmed it has had no connection with Edward White or John O’Loughlin for at least a decade, stripping away the primary shield of credibility White used to manipulate his victims.
Disclaimer: This article discusses sexual abuse and mental health struggles. If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, support is available. In Ireland, you can contact the National Sexual Violence Helpline at 1800 778 888 or visit the Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) website.
Edward White is currently serving his sentence in Mountjoy Prison. While he has not responded to requests for comment from his solicitor or through the prison system, the books remain available for purchase on Amazon. The next critical juncture for the victims will be the potential for legal escalation to compel Amazon to review its content policies regarding books produced through fraudulent means and by convicted offenders.
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