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Dozens shake hands with sex offender in Court in Tralee

  • 17-12-2009 5:06pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,673 ✭✭✭


    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1217/1224260838823.html

    Now before this turns into a total free-for-all lets be clear that these 50 people don't represent ALL Listowel people and ALL Kerry people. They don't represent ALL men. The Priest involved doesn't represent THE ENTIRE Clergy.

    So please no 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 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.


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,273 ✭✭✭Morlar


    Or might he be hiding secrets of his own? I'm not accussing him

    Yes you are, you are just being subtle about it using innuendo and insinuation to throw suspicion on his character because you disagree with his decision to be a character witness.

    If you want to criticise him on that basis fine, on the other hand if you want to accuse him of something else then fire away too, but that is not what you are doing here.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,221 ✭✭✭BrianD


    On an objective basis, the priest had every right to give a character reference to the perpertrator and should have given an honest one using his knowledge of the person and being honest. After all, a lot of crimes against the person are committed by people who have otherwise been "good". There is no reason why they should not have the benefit of their past behaviour. It would also give an indication of their ability to be rehabilitated.

    Where the priest stepped over the line is that he cast doubt on the integrity of the criminal justice process and the reference seemed to written to influence the sentencing process rather than being a genuine character reference. This was wrong. What happened was a crime whether you are a devout catholic or an aethiest. The church should be supporting natural justice and due process was followed. It was a complete disrespect of everybody's rights.


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