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Sexual assault...but sure he's a nice lad..Mod Warning Post 275

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Comments

  • #202
    Kimia
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,897 ✭✭✭Kimia


    What point are you trying to make here Bookworm?

    It's already been clarified that it wasn't rape.


  • #203
    Overature
    Registered Users Posts: 908 ✭✭✭Overature


    fair play for her for going through with it, he should be shot,

    in the report it said that most of the people out side the court house were "middle age men", bunch of pervs


  • #204
    Silverfish
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,698 Mod ✭✭✭✭Silverfish


    bookworm007 wrote: »
    And on with the rape discussion......

    We know it wasn't rape. It's been clarified again and again. We have edited posts to remove statements of rape.

    If you have an issue with a post, report it and let the mods deal with it. Thank you.


  • #205
    Wibbs
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,170 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    The next one describing this as rape gets a ban.

    Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.



  • #206
    Ash.J.Williams
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,162 ✭✭✭✭Ash.J.Williams


    Just to ensure we're still on topic:
    Gardai on patrol, found a bruised semi conscious woman,behind a skip, semi naked from the waste down, with the guy on top of her. He said he found her, while he was relieving himself, CCTV showed him carrying her to the spot.
    The the judged stated that his evidence and language set out to publicly demean the victim.

    "Yesterday handing down sentence Judge McDonagh said Foley had told lie after lie and sentenced him to seven years, suspending the final two and ordering he be placed on the sex offenders' register for life."


  • #207
    NameMe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13 ✭NameMe


    why all the furore here?

    Shouldn't we be satisfied that the scumbag got convicted when so few sexual assault or rape cases go the distance

    I think a lot of people are displaying their snobbery towards rural communities here rather than looking at the bigger picture which is that justice was done and this thug, no matter how popular he was in his town, was put away. Justice was served - we should be satisfied about that.

    And if local businessmen and parish priests and bigwigs in the town want to shake his hand and say he is a nice guy, then let them, that is their right, they know the guy, we do not. However it does expose them as being friends or supportive of a sex offender. If they can live with that, so be it. Let's not tar all small towns in ireland or all the people of Listowel as being somehow complicit in this act. Get over your small town prejudices - THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE HERE, the larger issue to my mind is the social stigma attached to reporting sex crimes and the appalingly low rates of conviction for these crimes IN CITY AND COUNTRY.


  • #208
    humanji
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,976 ✭✭✭✭humanji


    Ash.J.Williams wrote: »
    Just to ensure we're still on topic:
    Gardai on patrol, found a bruised semi conscious woman,behind a skip, semi naked from the waste down, with the guy on top of her. He said he found her, while he was relieving himself, CCTV showed him carrying her to the spot.
    The the judged stated that his evidence and language set out to publicly demean the victim.

    "Yesterday handing down sentence Judge McDonagh said Foley had told lie after lie and sentenced him to seven years, suspending the final two and ordering he be placed on the sex offenders' register for life."

    Didn't he also have his penis in his hand?


  • #209
    herya
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,571 ✭✭✭herya


    NameMe wrote: »
    Shouldn't we be satisfied that the scumbag got convicted when so few sexual assault or rape cases go the distance

    ...

    And if local businessmen and parish priests and bigwigs in the town want to shake his hand and say he is a nice guy, then let them, that is their right, they know the guy, we do not.

    All very true but the flip side of the coin is that the victim is shunned or denied service. It's the same people and the same attitude - they not only shake his hand and cry for him, but also humiliate and isolate her.


  • #210
    Warfi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 633 ✭✭✭Warfi


    herya wrote: »
    All very true but the flip side of the coin is that the victim is shunned or denied service. It's the same people and the same attitude - they not only shake his hand and cry for him, but also humiliate and isolate her.

    +1
    It's difficult enough to bring an assault case through to trial. Imagine if someone else is assaulted in Listowel, after seeing what's happened in this case, do you think they'd go to the gardai about it let alone see it through to a trial?


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  • #211
    Raiser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,929 ✭✭✭Raiser


    Wibbs wrote: »
    The next one describing this as rape gets a ban.

    Folks this individual was convicted of sexual assault - To incorrectly state that he committed a rape could potentially leave this site open to a legal action.

    - However if a Man is captured on CCTV carrying a Woman, who was reportedly to some degree incapacitated by alcohol, to a secluded area and at some point later in time was found hunched over her semi-conscious, semi-clothed body which was was described in Court as being covered in extensive scratches and bruises with his penis in his hand...... Then People you are entitled to make your own personal judgements and arrive to your own probable conclusions as to what may indeed have taken place had he not by chance been interrupted that night......


  • #212
    Wibbs
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,170 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    Its still conjecture though so lets keep it to a minimum folks.

    But yep Raiser exactly what you said in your first line.

    Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.



  • #213
    oceanclub
    Registered Users Posts: 3,411 ✭✭✭oceanclub


    AntiRip wrote: »
    I totally agree with you. Sorry to everyone. I just thought I could build up the confidence and say whats been said but at the end of the day a judgment has been made. I just really hope this sort of thing doesn't put off anyone in reporting such crimes. I really hope this doesn't happen.

    Sorry again guys :(

    Didn't stop you using boards.ie to start sending PMs around, did it?

    P.


  • #214
    Dave!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27,857 ✭✭✭✭Dave!


    hick wrote: »
    that's as bad as one of those people who went up and shook his hand, you need to understand the full facts before you make any decision,
    and before you start no I do not condone what A COURT WITH THE FACTS has said has happened here and fair play to that lady for having the strength to go through this

    Unless the 'full facts' are that she had her knickers around her ankles cos in her drunken state she needed to pee, and the gentleman who happened upon her was helping her put them back on, there is nothing that could be said to justify it :confused:


  • #215
    Oryx
    Subscribers Posts: 19,425 ✭✭✭✭Oryx


    oceanclub wrote: »
    Didn't stop you using boards.ie to start sending PMs around, did it?

    P.
    Which has what to do with this issue?


  • #216
    oceanclub
    Registered Users Posts: 3,411 ✭✭✭oceanclub


    Oryx wrote: »
    Which has what to do with this issue?

    You don't see anything wrong with using private messages here to start a whispering campaign against a sex victim???

    P.


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  • #217
    Oryx
    Subscribers Posts: 19,425 ✭✭✭✭Oryx


    oceanclub wrote: »
    You don't see anything wrong with using private messages here to start a whispering campaign against a sex victim???

    P.
    Why, did you receive a pm that did that? If so and you have a problem, you can report it.


  • #218
    oceanclub
    Registered Users Posts: 3,411 ✭✭✭oceanclub


    kickoutthejams wrote: »
    Lot of people being shocked by the priest shaking the man's hand; that doesn't surprise me. He's a priest; he's meant to love everyone, regardless of what they have done.

    Don't try and spin it. Did he say anything to the victim? Did he show _her_ love and shake her hand?

    Also, he's come out saying that this is "a miscarriage of justice".

    http://www.independent.ie/national-news/priest-says-he-has-no-regrets-for-supporting-sex-offender-in-court-1979386.html

    So please, no more bull**** about Sheehy being just happy-clappy.

    P.


  • #219
    oceanclub
    Registered Users Posts: 3,411 ✭✭✭oceanclub


    Oryx wrote: »
    Why, did you receive a pm that did that? If so and you have a problem, you can report it.

    *facepalm*

    The bloke himself ADMITTED on the forum that he was sending PMs around.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=63538920#post63538920

    I find it ironic that publically-accessible Facebook links are being deleted, to defend those who are publically threatening to "get" the victim - yet this appears to be fine.

    P.


  • #220
    Oryx
    Subscribers Posts: 19,425 ✭✭✭✭Oryx


    oceanclub wrote: »
    *facepalm*

    The bloke himself ADMITTED on the forum that he was sending PMs around.

    P.
    In this thread, he sent one, which he mentioned. To me. You have no idea of its content, which is the purpose of private messages. So again, if you have a problem with a pm you recieved, thats a separate issue.


    Mods, I realise Im off topic...sorry.


  • #221
    Wibbs
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,170 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    oceanclub as has been pointed out to you repeatedly, if you have a problem with a PM you received, then please report it.

    Private messages are just that, private. Not even admins can read them unless they are reported and only the particular one reported.

    So do not bring it up on this thread again. Thank you.

    Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.



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  • #222
    Radharc na Sleibhte
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,535 ✭✭✭Radharc na Sleibhte


    _michelle_ wrote: »
    it really brings home how simple & uneducated country people can act!

    Thats quite a sweeping generalisation there, well done.:rolleyes:


  • #223
    Snickers Man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,301 ✭✭✭Snickers Man


    I remember hearing last year that some town in Kerry had decided to ban unaccompanied men from a children's playground on child safety grounds.

    It wasn't Listowel, was it?


  • #224
    Handsome Bob
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,905 ✭✭✭✭Handsome Bob


    The stupidity and naivety of some people bewilders me sometimes. Put aside the actual details of the case for a moment, I can't believe so many people shook his hand and in all likelyness in front of a few media crews. I hope they realise that the "soldiarity" they showed with this bloke is going to bring a media shit-storm down upon them, and proper order I say.


  • #225
    avalon68
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 689 ✭✭✭avalon68


    herya wrote: »
    50 men in a town the size of Listowel is a huge crowd,

    It most certainly is not - Listowel is quite a large town - My OH is from Listowel and I spend quite a lot of time there.....I definitely would not consider it a rural area either....and its not a village, its a town. And I would also like to add that a whole town should not be judged by the actions of a few.


  • #226
    Wibbs
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,170 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    The family, girlfriend and priest is on TV3 defending him as we speak. Jeez the priest seems adamant and is also calling into question of the victims integrity. This is a weird one it has to be said.

    Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.



  • #227
    Warfi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 633 ✭✭✭Warfi


    Wibbs wrote: »
    The family, girlfriend and priest is on TV3 defending him as we speak. Jeez the priest seems adamant and is also calling into question of the victims integrity. This is a weird one it has to be said.


    +1

    They even have video proof that shows him carrying her to the skip area! Dan Foley (with his mother egging him on) must be the ultimate manipulator to have his family, girlfriend, priest and fifty well wishers believe that he didn't do anything wrong.
    What is it about Dan Foley that has people acting like this?


  • #228
    Wibbs
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,170 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    LZ5by5 wrote: »
    The stupidity and naivety of some people bewilders me sometimes. Put aside the actual details of the case for a moment, I can't believe so many people shook his hand and in all likelyness in front of a few media crews. I hope they realise that the "soldiarity" they showed with this bloke is going to bring a media shit-storm down upon them, and proper order I say.
    Yea I agree. I'm just trying to put myself in their mindset. If it was a friend of mine and I actually believed him or her? I'd support them too and wouldnt give to hoots about who was watching TBH. They clearly believe for whatever daft or good reason that he's innocent or not guilty anyway.

    Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.



  • #229
    PopUp
    Closed Accounts Posts: 236 ✭✭PopUp


    They have all tied their reputations to his. They have to go all in. It's not about logic, it's about pride.

    The more people criticise him, the more they will rally round. In fact outside criticism is probably MORE likely to get them to double down.

    The girlfriend admitted she hasn't seen the CCTV footage. I doubt the priest has either. They don't care about the truth, they care about someone they see as 'one of them'. For him to be convicted means the girlfriend is a fool, the priest is gullible, the mother raised a brute, and the local people who liked Foley more than the victim are cruel and misguided. Who would want to believe that about themselves?


  • #230
    Wibbs
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,170 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    Warfi wrote: »
    What is it about Dan Foley that has people acting like this?
    Maybe, but maybe we're asking the wrong question there. I would be asking what is it about the victim that has people acting like this?

    That's the more important question in my mind. It plugs into why more women dont come forward too. Do they genuinely believe she is lying, was "asking for it" and all that or is it a more general feeling among many that sexual assault is either not that big a deal or as I say "some women ask for it" etc.

    Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.



  • #231
    oceanclub
    Registered Users Posts: 3,411 ✭✭✭oceanclub


    Warfi wrote: »
    What is it about Dan Foley that has people acting like this?

    It could be that he's just a plausible thuggish charmer, a big fish in a small town. Nothing more than that.

    P.


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  • #232
    PopUp
    Closed Accounts Posts: 236 ✭✭PopUp


    oceanclub wrote: »
    It could be that he's just a plausible thuggish charmer, a big fish in a small town. Nothing more than that.

    Yes, and I would say as well it may have a lot to do with his mother's reputation and standing in the community. Sure she's a lovely lady, always doing the flowers at mass, helps out local charities, look how upset she is... (just an example, I don't know her or anybody in Listowel).


  • #233
    Madame Razz
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,252 ✭✭✭✭Madame Razz


    50men isn't really that large a number; they could easily have been 50members of his extended family. I'm originally from about 30miles or so from there and already today I've heard a number of different stories.

    The whole thing is very odd.


  • #234
    NameMe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13 ✭NameMe


    I think this thread should be locked

    what is it about anymore?

    it's about looking down at the stupid culchies who back their own regardless of deeds

    For example, Michael Lowry is implicated in a corruption scandal and what happens, he gets more popular. Why? because regardless of the fact he's a cheating unethical corrupt prick with all the integrity of a pimp, it is perceived by some of the locals that he is being bullied by the Dublin media and the intellectual elite, the whole issue metamorphises into a class thing and that only rallies/frenzies the locals even more and the real issue (corruption, abuse of power) is all but forgotten about.

    So what is this thread about?

    The title says "Sexual assault...but sure he's a nice lad..", well regardless of how he is perceived by the locals he is now going to have to serve out a sentence after being convicted for the crime - THAT IS THE KEY ISSUE

    the more people here whinge and moan about how SOME of Listowel's finest are still backing their boy, THE MORE THEY WILL BACK HIM. They are entitled to back him regardless of your contempt for what he has done. Why is it so surprising to you that his family and friends and even a local priest speak in his defence? Small communities are well-known for being close-knit and clannish, why are people so shocked by SOME local reaction?

    just let it go, he is doing the time for the crime, PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO FEEL HOWEVER THEY WISH ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE, no matter how ill-informed or prejudiced you may feel that view to be.

    I hate how this debate is being sidetracked - it is petty, small-minded and pretty idiotic in my view to target his supporters.

    He has been convicted, they may feel about him however do wish.

    I can't see a reason why this isn't locked.


  • #235
    PopUp
    Closed Accounts Posts: 236 ✭✭PopUp


    Where did anyone say anything about stupid culchies? This thread isn't being 'sidetracked', it was started to wonder about why there would be such public support for a convicted sex offender.

    It's nothing personal to Listowel. There are people who will behave like this in any community. The fact that it's a small community (pop c.4,000 I believe) is relevant though because it makes the campaign of intimidation against the victim so much more effective. It also means that everybody in the community knows both parties (or at the least they know their families). If this had happened in my suburb of Dublin I'm sure there could be people like the mother and girlfriend ready to believe in innocence that contradicts video evidence. But the girl would not be hounded out of shops, because there are enough people and enough shops that nobody would know her. It would also be harder to rally 50 local upstanding members of the community because in a populous area there is less social pressure to take sides.

    Again, it's nothing against Listowel. Halve the population of my suburb, transplant it from Dublin, and you would see similar behaviour.

    But this whole thread is about a community response and you can't talk about that without talking about the community.

    The mentality here - 50 people in a courtroom! - repeated appearances on the press! - is almost unprecedented and it is hard to understand. But I don't think there's anything wrong with questioning it and trying to understand it.
    the more people here whinge and moan about how SOME of Listowel's finest are still backing their boy, THE MORE THEY WILL BACK HIM.

    As far as that goes, I think you are absolutely right.


  • #236
    metrovelvet
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,376 ✭✭✭metrovelvet


    Is there a law in place where you can take the trial out of a small town and into another jurisdiction?

    The US has something called a 1982 [i am open to correction on the exact term] which allows for a case to be heard somewhere else, to avoid corrupted or undue influence on the judge and the jury.

    This is a real lesson in the dangers of community.


  • #237
    givyjoe81
    Closed Accounts Posts: 690 ✭✭✭givyjoe81


    metrovelvet wrote: »
    Is there a law in place where you can take the trial out of a small town and into another jurisdiction?

    The US has something called a 1982 [i am open to correction on the exact term] which allows for a case to be heard somewhere else, to avoid corrupted or undue influence on the judge and the jury.

    This is a real lesson in the dangers of community.

    Errr, i would have thought this case showed why your above reference to US law SHOULD NOT apply. I mean despite so many people choosing to believe that he wasnt guilty, or should i say... were still supporting him, he was still convicted.


  • #238
    Lockstep
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,031 ✭✭✭Lockstep


    suimhneas wrote: »
    Just another example of why people are shunning the catholic church in their droves. I dont think that love the sinner and totally ignore the victim is in any part of any bible. We should stop talking abou this as we are getting no place
    What happened to this girl was wrong,
    what them old foggies did in court was wrong,
    what the priest did was wrong, but for once the sentence is finally fitting the crime we are so use to soft sentences in this country all i can say is lets hope more judges hand down sentences like this might act as some sort of deterrant.

    Catholicism isn't fundamentalist; it doesn't rely on a literal interpretation of the Bible. "Love the sinner hate the sin" is presumably derived from the Jesus hanging out with prostitutes, tax collectors and so on, telling people not to stone an adulteress if they had committed a sin themselves etc. It's paraphrase.

    At any rate, how was what the priest did wrong; it would have been better if he had offered the woman support as well but I fail to see how condoling someone in need is "wrong", regardless of what they have done.
    Fink Goddie wrote: »
    There are some rural people though that havent seen anything of the world, still controlled by the catholic church and live in the back of beyond, not all people in rural areas are like that but i'v met a lot of them.
    And the same can be said for some city people. Or some men. Or some women. Or some travellers, or some settled people.
    And so on.

    panda100 wrote: »
    I
    I think you have a fair point. I myself would see the accused more as a victim of a society that disrespects women and treats them as a sex objects, however, the 'Christian' thing for the priest to have done was to also shake hands and sympathise with the victim, while also saying sympathising with her in his statement. From his actions he seems to only have sympathy for the accused.
    I will most certainly be writing a letter to him If not paying a visit to him when Im home next week. My great Uncle was parish priest in Listowel for years, a man who I have great respect for as he always made a concerted effort to make the church more inclusive for women.

    My heart really goes out to the victim in this case.
    I agree; the priests actions were not without fault. However, neither do I think his actions were wrong either. He should have been a bit more balanced.
    MissFlitworth wrote: »
    I think he's a sh1t no doubt about it and deserves to go to jail, but I'm so uncomfortable with this thing of wishing rape on men in prison as some kind of fair punishment. Rape & sexual assault aren't funny.

    Hear hear.
    Fink Goddie wrote: »
    I'm not suprised at all, wouldnt expect anything more from the clergy, wouldnt trust any of them!!!
    So you admit that you're not impartial right?



    Fink Goddie wrote: »
    This is why christianity is a load of sh1te in my opinion!!!
    Your opinon, fair enough.
    oceanclub wrote: »
    Don't try and spin it. Did he say anything to the victim? Did he show _her_ love and shake her hand?
    Already adressed.
    oceanclub wrote: »
    Also, he's come out saying that this is "a miscarriage of justice".

    http://www.independent.ie/national-news/priest-says-he-has-no-regrets-for-supporting-sex-offender-in-court-1979386.html

    So please, no more bull**** about Sheehy being just happy-clappy.

    P.
    Believing the best in someone is terrible?
    Meh.




    Fink Goddie wrote: »
    Its these do gooders that have the laws in this country the way they are, people consider the rights of criminals more than the victims rights!

    Ah come on now. THe whole "the law puts criminals first" gets thrown around a lot but do you have any proof for this?


  • #239
    Novella
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,713 ✭✭✭✭Novella


    I honestly just don't understand this at all.

    Ok, so I didn't go through and read the whole thread 'cause it is really, really long so maybe I am missing something?

    This guy sexually assaulted a girl and yet people are queueing up to shake his hand... Seriously? All I can say is that poor girl. Fair play to her for standing up for herself and being able to say, "This isn't right". I can only imagine the amount of courage that took.

    The fact that people seem to be so 'on his side' must be awful for her.

    I feel like I must be missing something here 'cause it's just not adding up in my head. Why is he being treated as if he's the victim??


  • #240
    metrovelvet
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,376 ✭✭✭metrovelvet


    givyjoe81 wrote: »
    Errr, i would have thought this case showed why your above reference to US law SHOULD NOT apply. I mean despite so many people choosing to believe that he wasnt guilty, or should i say... were still supporting him, he was still convicted.

    I wasnt saying it should or should not apply, I was just wondering if it existed in Ireland.

    But I was thinking the same thing, the people of Listowel cant be that bad or their jury would have let him off. If they found him not guilty, then you would really have to question jury selection in small towns.

    I would be very interested to know how they went about jury selection for this case.


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  • #241
    SleepDoc
    Registered Users Posts: 303 ✭✭SleepDoc


    Utterly disgusting to read about this today. All those gobdaws lining up to shake that guys hand while the poor girl sat almost alone in the court. For shame.


  • #242
    PopUp
    Closed Accounts Posts: 236 ✭✭PopUp


    metrovelvet wrote: »
    But I was thinking the same thing, the people of Listowel cant be that bad or their jury would have let him off. If they found him not guilty, then you would really have to question jury selection in small towns.

    I would be very interested to know how they went about jury selection for this case.

    He wasn't tried in Listowel, he was tried in Tralee.

    The jury panel that the 12 people are selected from is very large. People are summoned to it from a wide area (all over Kerry and perhaps surrounding counties as well?). The judge asks everybody from the area concerned and/or who knows either the victim or the defendant personally to excuse themselves (and not speaking up is a offense taken pretty seriously).


  • #243
    Wibbs
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,170 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    kickoutthejams wrote: »
    Catholicism isn't fundamentalist; it doesn't rely on a literal interpretation of the Bible. "Love the sinner hate the sin" is presumably derived from the Jesus hanging out with prostitutes, tax collectors and so on, telling people not to stone an adulteress if they had committed a sin themselves etc. It's paraphrase.
    true and a common mistake with church bashers.
    At any rate, how was what the priest did wrong; it would have been better if he had offered the woman support as well but I fail to see how condoling someone in need is "wrong", regardless of what they have done.
    His interview on TV3 was unusual to say the least. He didnt backtrack and stated that he thought an innocent man was in gaol tonight and also called the integrity of the witness into question. Now clearly he believes this to be true and I'm all for people standing up for such belief, but there's defo an imbalance and he couldnt claim he was even handed.

    Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.



  • #244
    Lockstep
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,031 ✭✭✭Lockstep


    Wibbs wrote: »
    His interview on TV3 was unusual to say the least. He didnt backtrack and stated that he thought an innocent man was in gaol tonight and also called the integrity of the witness into question. Now clearly he believes this to be true and I'm all for people standing up for such belief, but there's defo an imbalance and he couldnt claim he was even handed.
    I'm not in Ireland so havn't seen any such thing; would it be on the TV3 website?


  • #245
    Larianne
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,954 ✭✭✭✭Larianne


    Thaedydal wrote: »
    Yes this is sickening, but it is not surprising and it is not just the attitude in rural villages.
    Ireland is rife with victim and slut shaming.
    She was out drinking, no doubt dressed up for the night and was in a night club so ergo she was asking for "it".
    Seems you need to be a young girl and a virgin or an old lady in your 70s for your attacker to be shunned.

    http://www.radiokerry.ie/news/
    pookie82 wrote: »
    There's any manner of things at play here that we'll probably never hear about. Maybe the girl was very promiscuous around the village and this Danny guy was known as a quiet and friendly fella who did his neighbours good deeds and kept himself to himself in the public eye. Maybe there's a family history between the two or some unmentioned reason why people would assume she wanted some sort of revenge on him. All absolutely wild speculation obviously, and now irrelevant as the court has found him guilty.

    What worries me most about the whole thing is the public display of unity with a convicted sex offender. Whatever their reasons, it puts out such a shockingly negative message to any girl (rural or otherwise but particularly living in that kind of setting) who might otherwise have brought a case against a man who assaulted her, in a judicial system where the odds are already stacked against you from the moment you report a sex crime. Surely if they had sympathies they could have shown them in private.

    When I read this story I immediately thought of a college friend of mine. This happened a good few years back. She lives in a small enough rural town. She is a fun loving girl and was quite promiscuous. She was raped. The guy who raped her was also the town's mayor. But she was told by her father and her brother not to bring it to the attention of the police as it would shame the family. :eek: I still can't understand their reasoning not to go to the police.

    So I think this type of stuff isn't a rare occurrence in this country which is very very sad.


  • #246
    the iceman come
    Closed Accounts Posts: 96 ✭✭the iceman come


    I wonder where this piece of garbage will serve his sentence? I dont think the hugs he will get in prison will be quite as comforting as his narrow minded kinfolk,jesus only in Ireland,we have learned nothing. He is a sex offender pure and simple.


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  • #247
    herya
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,571 ✭✭✭herya


    Wibbs wrote: »
    Maybe, but maybe we're asking the wrong question there. I would be asking what is it about the victim that has people acting like this?

    I honestly can't think of anything she could have done to deserve anything close such a treatment. Even if (and please note I'm not suggesting anything!) she was a well known local slapper who had pleasured many a lad behind said dumpster it wouldn't give him any right to drag her there unconscious when he felt like it. And the physical evidence/video footage/garda statements show it rather clearly - the judge didn't hesitate in the slightest exposing his layers of lies and damning him.


    And if he was sentenced in Tralee, who arranged for the 50 men to travel there? It's not like they dropped there on their lunch break in their home town :(


  • #248
    hinault
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,932 ✭✭✭hinault


    This is an appalling story.

    Someone convicted of that crime doesn't deserve applause.

    Those people who supported that criminal by shaking his hand are cretins.


  • #249
    sam34
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,073 ✭✭✭sam34


    herya wrote: »
    And if he was sentenced in Tralee, who arranged for the 50 men to travel there? It's not like they dropped there on their lunch break in their home town :(

    as far as i know, his mother organised it


  • #250
    AudreyHepburn
    Registered Users Posts: 5,673 ✭✭✭AudreyHepburn


    This thing is turning into a total slagging free-for-all lets be clear that these 50 people don't represent ALL Listowel people or ALL Kerry people. They don't represent ALL men. The Priest involved doesn't represent THE ENTIRE Clergy.

    Rape/Sexual Assualt can happen to anyone, anywhere and anyone can be responsible. It is not exclusive to rural places or to male perpatrators.

    So please guys stop tarring everyone with the same brush because that doesn't hep anyone including the victim.

    I for one can't believe that in this country some people are still so backwards they believe that if a young woman, like myself, is assualted or raped she must somehow be to bame.

    It would certainly discourage me from coming forward if I were ever in that position.

    It's been stressed in several places that the woman was sexually assaulted as opposed to raped. As if it matters. The point is Foley, in whatever way, attacked, injured and traumatised her in a brutal way and these 50 people are further injuring her and treating as though she were guilty party.

    The fact that she had been drinking and met up with Foley during a night out has been brought up in some places. Again irrelevant. I'm the same age as the victim and like her I enjoy going out for a few drinks and a dance. I flirt with the odd guy too. What woman doesn't?

    In no way does any of this excuse what Foley did to her.

    You'd have to wonder about the Priest involved. If he is willing to protect and condone this sex offender who else might he be protecting? Fellow clergy? Or might he be hiding secrets of his own? I'm not accussing him of anything here by the way just making the point.

    And as for the lay people involved I sincerely hope none of them ever end up on Jury Duty at a similar cae to this because we can guess where they're sympathies would lie.


  • #251
    Crann na Beatha
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,763 ✭✭✭✭Crann na Beatha


    This post has been deleted.


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