It was meant to be a pivotal moment for French society — a reckoning long overdue.

Disturbing, yet impossible to ignore.

The coastal town of Vannes, in southern Brittany, had carefully prepared a special courtroom and a separate overflow amphitheater for what many believed would be a landmark event.

Hundreds of journalists were accredited, and the expectation was that the proceedings would dominate headlines over the trial’s three-month span, compelling a reluctant public to confront a type of crime too often pushed to the margins.

Early comparisons were drawn to last year’s high-profile Pelicot case in southern France, which drew international attention for its scale and horror.

Yet, the trial of Joël Le Scouarnec — a retired surgeon who admitted in court to sexually assaulting or raping 299 individuals, most of them minors — is drawing to a close this Wednesday, largely overshadowed and accompanied by deep public frustration.

“I’m exhausted. I’m angry. Right now, I feel hopeless. Society seems completely indifferent. It’s terrifying to think this could happen again,” said Manon Lemoine, 36, one of Le Scouarnec’s victims.