Labour TD (mother) & Councillor back convicted paedophile

[micls]

A response:

TD Lynch,
Can I first ask, wat exactly was the purpose of your letter? In the eyes of the court what purpose does such a testimonial serve? It is my understanding such testomials submitted on behalf of the person convicted are to give a character refence for him in the context of his background and family, and through that hope to get leniancy from the judge.

You claim it would have been cowardly of you to refuse to write the letter to be sumitted on behalf of a convicted rapist and paedophile, one who have a further case of sexual assault pending against him. I put it to you that the cowardly thing in this situation, was not to have the backbone to tell your friends, that you coulnd't morally use the office of TD to get involved in a criminal case on behalf of the convicted. Particularly one where the crimes were committed against your consitiuents.

Regardless of the contents of the letter or whether you spoke of him personally or not, it was a letter submitted by you, under the headed paper of your elected office, on behalf of a convicted paedophile. This is something that cannot be disputed. And that, TD Lynch, is a disgrace.

When you write a letter as TD, are you not writing that on behalf of your constituents? Do you believe it is in the best interest of us, that who write a letter to be submitted on behalf of this man?

Mr Casey is also awaiting trial for another case of sexual assault against a 13 year old girl. I am deeply ashamed than I helped to elect you.

All our families live in your constituency, all our friends live in your constituency. You have cost your party more votes than you can imagine with your actions.

Let me ask you this TD Lynch. If it had been your daughters, how would you react if a fellow Labour TD acted as you have? I have a suspicion that you would not accept the excuses you have given to us.

Yours in disgust,
Catriona Boyle
Cork North Central

[micls]

Osasuran, the girls were both 15 when it started(different times) but it continued for 2 years.

Another case is pending of sexual assault of a third girl, who was 13 at the time

[micls]

Just on the heading of this thread. Was the letter submitted after the person was convicted? Or before hand?

The letter was dated the 19th of March. Almost a month after he was convicted

[pete]

I hear Kathleen Lynch has now apologised admitting what she did was wrong. Political expedience?

[GavinZac]

I hear Kathleen Lynch has now apologised admitting what she did was wrong. Political expedience?

I'd say Gilmore finally got her to answer the phone.

Hollow apology given that it was cowardly emailed to a radio station and not addressed to the girls, or her constituents. This coming after public pressure when yesterday she was claiming she was entirely in the right. What use is there, apologising after-the-fact? Trevor Casey has never admitted guilt nor apologised but if he had, it wouldn't have made a jot of difference to the crimes he committed. Lynch's "apology", facile as it is, comes after-the-fact when she used her political influence to back a convicted paedophile. This isn't some slip of the tongue offence, this is a woman abusing her power.

[micls]

STATEMENT BY KATHLEEN LYNCH TD
Labour Party TD for Cork North Central
Sunday, 20 April, 2008


STATEMENT BY DEPUTY KATHLEEN LYNCH RE CORK COURT CASE

I refer to a letter I wrote, which was mentioned by Mr. Justice Patrick
McCarthy, last Friday when he was imposing a sentence of 13 years on Trevor
Casey for a number of extremely serious sexual offences.

The letter was written in good faith by me, testifying to the good
character of Mr. Casey’s parents and was presented to the judge by his
defending counsel.

Having heard an interview with one of the victims in the case, who was
clearly distressed by my letter and having considered the matter and
discussed it with colleagues I now accept that it was inappropriate for a
TD to have become involved in any way in a case of such seriousness.

If my action has in any way added to the ordeal of the two victims in this
case, then I deeply regret that and offer them my apologies.

I want to reiterate that I have no issue with court process or the sentence
imposed in this case. I have long been an advocate of proper supports for
victims of sexual offences and I believe that serious offenders should
receive and serve appropriate sentences.

ENDS.

Doesnt she just sound so sorry.....:rolleyes:

1) Call me cynical but if she was being honest the 3rd paragraph would read 'Having seen/heard the awful media coverage and gotten a call from my party leader I was forced to make this apology'.

2) How can you trust someone who's judgement is so bad that they only realise sending a letter on behalf of a convicted paedophile is inapropriate after they hear the victims upset. How did she expect them to react?

3) What use would this 'apology' have been if the judge had been more lenient because of the letter? 'Im sorry I helped put a paedophile back on the streets...maybe it was inappropriate'

4) Could she not have made the effort to contact teh girls, her constituents, personally to apologise rather than sending a copy to radio stations? Im sure if she had then they may be more inclined to believe she was sincere.

When I heard she had apologised I was unsure how to react. I was thinking at least she admitted she was wrong. But after reading it Im just angry again. Its a halfhearted attempt of a forced apology.

[pete]

I don't normally listen to Gerry Ryan but car radio moved accidentally to 2FM & he was suggesting this was part of the Irish political culture people asking their representatives to assist them in all manner of things. I think he has a point. We should not require TDs to get us Social Welfare or other entitlements. TDs should be dealing with higher level details. Excluding the issues of this case for a moment it is clear Kathleen Lynch saw nothing wrong with writing a letter to a judge & I suspect she is not alone.

[Macy]

I don't normally listen to Gerry Ryan but car radio moved accidentally to 2FM & he was suggesting this was part of the Irish political culture people asking their representatives to assist them in all manner of things. I think he has a point. We should not require TDs to get us Social Welfare or other entitlements. TDs should be dealing with higher level details. Excluding the issues of this case for a moment it is clear Kathleen Lynch saw nothing wrong with writing a letter to a judge & I suspect she is not alone.
I haven't heard anyone from other parties coming out having a go, so I suspect they're all at it and we just don't hear it and it was the judge that was acting strange by naming who he got letters from?

She's apologised, which god knows is more than most would do, but as things stand she's getting it whatever she does ("why doesn't she apologise?" - "a bit late now" or "she was made apologise"?).

As for the general point, the problem is that political interference does make a difference getting social welfare entitlements, health care etc. Have proper, functioning systems, then our political representatives could concentrate on legislation, instead of trying to be a "good consituency worker". Someone could be a dumb fook, with zero intelligence, that concentrates on things like this and is a poll topper.

[Sheridan]

Someone could be a dumb fook, with zero intelligence, that concentrates on things like this and is a poll topper.
Why did you phrase that in the hypothetical?

[Macy]

Why did you phrase that in the hypothetical?
It'd take too long to type half the names in the Dáil!

[jebus]

story covered on RTE Six-One news