Something is rotten in the state of Ireland (Read Mod warning in first post)

tribulus · 17-12-2009 11:32AM

I believe the two threads were merged, hence why it links here.

ejmaztec · 17-12-2009 11:32AM

Living near Listowel, but having little to do with anyone living there, and not knowing any of the people involved, I've gleaned that, despite the guilty verdict, the sympathisers don't believe the woman.

There was a similar case in this area a few years ago, where some guy got locked up for (I think) 7 years after being convicted of rape. Again, it was generally regarded by the locals that the guilty verdict was wrong (the victim wasn't a local).

This kind of thing probably happens everywhere, but the fact that there were people sobbing, slobbering and shaking hands outside the court, and a priest giving a character reference sends it nationwide.

deisemum · 17-12-2009 11:33AM

It's time we stopped kowtowing to the likes of the clergy and politicans and allowing them to give character references in court.

This case is like the film The Accused.

El Weirdo · 17-12-2009 11:38AM

granturismo wrote: »

Links to this thread. Were you trying to link to the Ladies Lounge thread where one poster suggested that the criminal's mother organised the queue of handshakers and huggers before the judge entered the court.

What tribulus said.

AnonoBoy · 17-12-2009 11:52AM

ejmaztec wrote: »

Again, it was generally regarded by the locals that the guilty verdict was wrong (the victim wasn't a local).

"Ah sure a local lad couldn't do anything wrong like. Sure isn't that they way, outsiders women coming in teasing our menfolk and then complaining when they get what's coming to them" :mad:

Did she manipulate the CCTV images and force the bouncer to lie to the Gardai? No.

I can't see how there's any doubt in this case. The jury certainly didn't think there was. The guy said he found her out by the dumpster despite being caught on camera carrying her out there.

To the 50 men who lined up to hug him and shake his hand - f*ck you. Every single one of you. Let's see any of these nimrods trying to explain their actions. They'll make as much of a fool of themselves as that priest did. They're all a pack of ignorant f*ckwits who deliberately did this as a public show. I honestly hope that bouncer gets a taste of his own medicine in prison.

The_Minister · 17-12-2009 11:56AM

Just a quick clarification.

The opinion of one priest does not not equate to the opinion of the Church.

The priest is allowed a fairly wide scope on non-theological matters, and will generally not be disciplined for comments relating to the local area. The Church may distance themselves from his remarks if they get enough attention, but obviously the Vatican is too big for anything else.

I wonder why everyone there believes him though?

Spore · 17-12-2009 11:56AM

There's a detailed piece on this on Radio One at the moment - I'm just gobsmacked listening to the report. 'A column of men filed up the the accused and shook his hand, some embracing him with tears in their eyes'. 'A posse gathered outside the Court House waiting for the victim who had to let out a side door and spirited away in a sqad car'. Jesus Christ. It's like something from Deliverance. Anyone for a spontaneous protest in Listowel against this type of inbred show-of-strength for a convicted rapist? Preferrable around the time of Listowel Writers Week for maximum impact?

Spore · 17-12-2009 11:58AM

The_Minister wrote: »

The opinion of one priest does not not equate to the opinion of the Church.

But that's the issue though, isn't it? There's been a climate in the church of defending and covering up rapists and paedophiles. In the prevailing climate of the Ryan Report it actually sounds like the Church's official position tbh.

deisemum · 17-12-2009 11:58AM

His girlfriend is being interviewed on the Gerry Ryan Show at the moment, she'll be back on after the 11am news.

ibarelycare · 17-12-2009 11:59AM

His girlfriend's on Gerry Ryan right now pleading his innocence and saying the trial was a farce. Talk with her continuing after 11 o'clock news.

ejmaztec · 17-12-2009 12:00PM

AnonoBoy wrote: »

"Ah sure a local lad couldn't do anything wrong like. Sure isn't that they way, outsiders women coming in teasing our menfolk and then complaining when they get what's coming to them" :mad:

Did she manipulate the CCTV images and force the bouncer to lie to the Gardai? No.

The woman involved in the old case wasn't a local, but, as far as I know, the woman in the recent case is. She could belong to a different tribe though.:eek:

baalthor · 17-12-2009 12:05PM

ejmaztec wrote: »

She could belong to a different tribe though.:eek:

What does this mean?

bigeasyeah · 17-12-2009 12:05PM

And whats anybody gonna do about it? Nothing,apart from piss and moan amongst themselves.Somethings rotten in Ireland alright-the people.
"Ara sure Id hate to complain"

AnonoBoy · 17-12-2009 12:12PM

I'm listening to that girl on 2FM now talking about it. I missed the start though and don't know if Gerry Ryan asked her about the CCTV images and the fact that he lied to the Gardai. Did anyone catch it?

I'd like to hear her explain that away.

deisemum · 17-12-2009 12:15PM

AnonoBoy wrote: »

I'm listening to that girl on 2FM now talking about it. I missed the start though and don't know if Gerry Ryan asked her about the CCTV images and the fact that he lied to the Gardai. Did anyone catch it?

I'd like to hear her explain that away.

She said he had no recollection of it but after seeing the cctv evidence he accepted it. His girlfriend is coming across as someone who's deluded.

SEPT 23 1989 · 17-12-2009 12:15PM

AnonoBoy wrote: »

I'm listening to that girl on 2FM now talking about it. I missed the start though and don't know if Gerry Ryan asked her about the CCTV images and the fact that he lied to the Gardai. Did anyone catch it?

I'd like to hear her explain that away.

she does not believe there was any assault at all:eek:

AnonoBoy · 17-12-2009 12:19PM

deisemum wrote: »

She said he had no recollection of it but after seeing the cctv evidence he accepted it. His girlfriend is coming across as someone who's deluded.

So she's falling back on the 'oh he's a lovely lad' defence. He also claimed he found her out there by the dumpster and that was the first he saw of her despite the fact that he'd bought her drink earlier in the club. He conveniently forgot that too when he talked to the Gardai. If he forgot that too then maybe he just 'forgot' the bit where the girl tried to stop him taking her clothes off?

Palmerstown_guy · 17-12-2009 12:30PM

A bouncer? :rolleyes: This incident will look great on his well educated CV.

Sums up Ireland's justice system in two words -- Corrupt and useless.

Nevyn · 17-12-2009 12:30PM

http://www.irishexaminer.ie/ireland/people-queued-to-shake-this-sex-attackers-hand-108061.html

People queued to shake this sex attacker’s hand

By Donal Hickey Tralee

Thursday, December 17, 2009

IT was a scene that could have come from a John B Keane play – a bizarre gesture of support by some plain people of Kerry for a convicted sex offender.

Danny Foley, of Meen, Listowel, sat in the dock at the Circuit Criminal Court, in Tralee, yesterday, awaiting sentence for sexually assaulting a woman, having been found guilty by a jury almost two weeks ago.

A group of 50 people, mainly men and said to be neighbours and friends, trooped into the courtroom and marched up to the accused, in single file. Each man shook his hand – some hugged him warmly, with tears in their eyes. It was witnessed by the 24-year-old victim who cut a lonely figure in the front seat of the public gallery. Dressed in black, she sat with a female garda, a counsellor from the Kerry Rape Crisis Centre and a friend.

All the well-wishers then seated themselves in the public gallery. Judge Donagh McDonagh, who had not seen what happened, emerged from his chambers a few minutes later.

Foley, a 35-year-old bouncer who had been in custody since being convicted, then stood up.

Before handing down a seven-year prison sentence, with the last two years suspended, the judge told him he had lied about several things and there was something "particularly odious" about the allegation he and the victim had engaged in oral sex.

In the witness box, the victim calmly read from her victim impact statement in which she spoke of being judged in north Kerry for pursuing her case, but she was not sorry for telling the truth.

Parish priest, Fr Seán Sheehy, a character witness for Foley, said he had always struck him as having the highest respect for women, suggesting there wasn’t an abusive bone in Foley’s body.

The moment sentence was handed down, the accused’s mother began to scream loudly. The judge ordered she be removed from the courtroom.

Vera O’Leary, director of Kerry Rape Crisis Centre, called for a system to protect victims of sex offences from intimidation in a courtroom.

Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.ie/ireland/people-queued-to-shake-this-sex-attackers-hand-108061.html#ixzz0Zwceq4Nx

Pure intimidation and bully tactics.

lisnsooz · 17-12-2009 12:34PM

Aunt of victim now on Gerry Ryan...this is all very shocking - that poor girl....

ibarelycare · 17-12-2009 12:34PM

The victim's aunt is now on the Gerry Ryan show

professore · 17-12-2009 12:42PM

Palmerstown_guy wrote: »

A bouncer? :rolleyes: This incident will look great on his well educated CV.

Sums up Ireland's justice system in two words -- Corrupt and useless.

He got 7 years - sounds like justice to me.

AnonoBoy · 17-12-2009 12:42PM

Palmerstown_guy wrote: »

Sums up Ireland's justice system in two words -- Corrupt and useless.

Well the justice system got it right in this case. It's the behaviour of the locals that is shocking.

fat__tony · 17-12-2009 12:46PM

namloc1980 wrote: »

Cute hoorism and getting one up on the system is a way of life in Ireland and is applauded. It's sad but that's the way it is. Although this brings things to a new low.

Agreed, I despise this country for that kind of mindset. :mad:

mandysmithers · 17-12-2009 12:48PM

ibarelycare wrote: »

The victim's aunt is now on the Gerry Ryan show

What the hell is she saying? Is she actually trying to say that he didn't do it, even though it's all on CCTV??? Or that it wasn't assault - maybe because she was passed out, and therefore mightn't have struggled as she wasn't able to, they think it isn't assault?? Like, what could you possibly say in defence of that; in the face of such hard evidence??!!!!

I'm astonished, absolutely amazed, saddened and disgusted.

jclare56 · 17-12-2009 12:48PM

I think the woman involed in this case is amazing and Id just like to say fair play to her for going through with the case - its clear that there was community support for the bouncer and it must have been really hard to go through with it.

Its just unbeleivable that this situation still exists in this country in this day and age. That priest should resign!!!!

hooradiation · 17-12-2009 12:49PM

Palmerstown_guy wrote: »

A bouncer? :rolleyes: This incident will look great on his well educated CV.

Sums up Ireland's justice system in two words -- Corrupt and useless.

ok, I know I'm going to regret this, but.

How does a man being tried and found guilty of an offense make the justice system "Corrupt and useless"?

InReality · 17-12-2009 12:50PM

There's no words for that sort of craic really.
Its pretty sick in this day and age.

ibarelycare · 17-12-2009 12:51PM

mandysmithers wrote: »

What the hell is she saying? Is she actually trying to say that he didn't do it, even though it's all on CCTV??? Or that it wasn't assault - maybe because she was passed out, and therefore mightn't have struggled as she wasn't able to, they think it isn't assault?? Like, what could you possibly say in defence of that; in the face of such hard evidence??!!!!

I'm astonished, absolutely amazed, saddened and disgusted.

The VICTIM'S aunt. She was basically saying that it's not fair that her niece had to go through the ordeal of being sexually assaulted and now she's basically being ostracised by some of the community. She was saying she's still struggling to get over it and she'll have to move.

mandysmithers · 17-12-2009 12:56PM

ibarelycare wrote: »

The VICTIM'S aunt. She was basically saying that it's not fair that her niece had to go through the ordeal of being sexually assaulted and now she's basically being ostracised by some of the community. She was saying she's still struggling to get over it and she'll have to move.

Oh right, sorry. There was an earlier post saying that someone on the Gerry Ryan show said she didn't believe there was an assault. Thanks for clarifying it.

I'm not surprised that the victim feels she might have to move. Those backwards, neanderthal f*ckers are probably making her life a misery.

Something is rotten in the state of Ireland (Read Mod warning in first post)

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