Labour TD (mother) & Councillor back convicted paedophile

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/?...kfoj&c=ireland

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Ms Aileen Donnelly SC (with Mr Noel Devitt BL), said the Director of Public Prosecutions placed some of the offences in the case as being "at the upper end of the scale". She noted that some of the sexual assaults carried 14 years imprisonment.

"The fact that other juveniles were present for some of these offences is a significant matter."

Mr Justice McCarthy who was told that the younger victim has been admitted into psychiatric care on occasions as a result of being abused by Casey.

He was told she kept a diary in which she recorded what happened and the effect it had on her, causing her "to hate my life". Among the points she recorded were "Leave me alone" and also "I wish I was dead.".

Mr Justice McCarthy directed that Casey’s name be added to the register of sex offenders and said that while sex offender treatment courses were available, rehabilitation could only happen if the offender accepted responsibility but Casey hadn’t done so.

The judge noted he had received personal letters from Labour TD, Mrs Kathleen Lynch and from a former Lord Mayor of Cork, Mr John Murray, indicating that Casey came from a good family with integrity. He said, however, that he felt there was little in the way of mitigation rising from them in all the circumstances.

Mr Justice McCarthy imposed six-year concurrent sentences on the earlier rape charges in relation to the eldest victim, and a consecutive seven-year term in relation to later rapes on this victim.

He imposed a consecutive seven-year term for the rapes on the second victim, totalling 14 years but suspended the final year of that term. He also imposed four year terms for the sexual assault charges concurrent with the seven-year rape terms.

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What in the name of blue hell are my elected representatives at Dáil and City Council level doing sending letters of recommendation at the sentencing of a convicted serial paedophile? This woman is a mother, and she's backing the earlier release of a convicted paedophile back into her area? What these scumbags will do for votes... I am quite angry.

My feelings on the matter(and some background information) are here http://www.ccfcforum.com/forum/Absol...ed-t24588.html

I cant describe how angry I am.

I wonder how the Former Lord Mayor reconciles his cheery disposition in giving half days and no homework to children whilst sending letters of support for a serial rapist paedophile, who raped his potential sister-in-law while his toddler son was in the room?

Is there evidence that the letters were in "support" of the offender, rather than an "I know the family" sop to the other family members who could've been looking for something that didn't tarnish the rest of them?

Don't agree with politicians getting involved to be honest, but until we know what was in the letters we can hardly put in the same bracket of seeking the early release of a convicted peadophile like Minister Killeen did last year.

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Originally Posted by Macy

Is there evidence that the letters were in "support" of the offender, rather than an "I know the family" sop to the other family members who could've been looking for something that didn't tarnish the rest of them?

Don't agree with politicians getting involved to be honest, but until we know what was in the letters we can hardly put in the same bracket of seeking the early release of a convicted peadophile like Minister Killeen did last year.

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Firstly I think its irrelevant. What is the point of these letters if not to ask for leniancy on his behalf?

But yes. Parts of the letters were read out in court, my father was there. They spoke mainly of how great his family was, but also spoke of how he always seemed a respectable and responsible young man.

Im not comparing it to any other case, tbh wasnt even aware of that case.

but on its own merits I am disgusted that someone I helped elect did anything to try to get a lighter sentence for a pedophile who raped her constituents.

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Originally Posted by Macy

Is there evidence that the letters were in "support" of the offender, rather than an "I know the family" sop to the other family members who could've been looking for something that didn't tarnish the rest of them?

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The letters were sent as positive reference for consideration in the sentencing of a convicted paedophile, and read at the same time as victim impact statements which serve the same purpose.

1 year of Casey's sentence has been suspended as the judge felt his previous clean record and the "unlikelihood of him appearing in court again" went for him. How would you feel if part of this judgement was in any way influenced even in the slightest by letters from elected Labour officials?

There was a priest involved too but then, quelle surprise

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Originally Posted by micls

Firstly I think its irrelevant. What is the point of these letters if not to ask for leniancy on his behalf?

But yes. Parts of the letters were read out in court, my father was there. They spoke mainly of how great his family was, but also spoke of how he always seemed a respectable and responsible young man.

Im not comparing it to any other case, tbh wasnt even aware of that case.

but on its own merits I am disgusted that someone I helped elect did anything to try to get a lighter sentence for a pedophile who raped her constituents.

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What if the mother or father of the monster was there begging for something that showed that the rest of the family weren't hiding anything? All that you've said there is that the family was good, and that he seemed respectable and responsible. I'd read what you've posted there as the family were good (and they are innocent afterall) and how they weren't to know what he was really like. Did the letters, from both of them (as they could be different) actually ask for leniency or were they about the family?

I repeat, I don't think politicians should get involved, but is saying the family are ok and that the offender seemed normal to them really the same as asking for leniency in sentencing?

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Originally Posted by Macy

What if the mother or father of the monster was there begging for something that showed that the rest of the family weren't hiding anything? All that you've said there is that the family was good, and that he seemed respectable and responsible. I'd read what you've posted there as the family were good (and they are innocent afterall) and how they weren't to know what he was really like. Did the letters, from both of them (as they could be different) actually ask for leniency or were they about the family?

I repeat, I don't think politicians should get involved, but is saying the family are ok and that the offender seemed normal to them really the same as asking for leniency in sentencing?

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Well the family themselves are claiming he's still innocent and has ben falsely convicted so I cant see themselves trying to distance themselves from him.

What reason is there for sending a letter to te judge to be considered when sentencing? The letter didnt have to be made public, the judge chose to read part of it out. If he hadnt then it would have been no good to the family if what they wanted was just for their names to be kept out of it.

They were given to the judge as character references. The only reasoning I can see behind that is to try to get some leniancy. I really cant see any other reason.

Surely the court sentencing isnt the place and the ludge isnt the person to be giving the letter to as a character refernce if it is just about the family

If the transcripts are posted online Il post them, and the parts of the letters the judge read out.

When my dad gets back he'l probably tell more of what was said.

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Originally Posted by Macy

I repeat, I don't think politicians should get involved, but is saying the family are ok and that the offender seemed normal to them really the same as asking for leniency in sentencing?

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That is the purpose of letters to be considered in sentencing. The family have nothing to do with it except as a frame of reference for the convicted person's character. Sentencing is not a time to be clearing a family's name; I'm not sure there is any time for it really. They weren't on trial and had nothing to do with the sentencing other than, as I said, as part of the perception of Trevor Casey.

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Originally Posted by GavinZac

That is the purpose of letters to be considered in sentencing. The family have nothing to do with it except as a frame of reference for the convicted person's character. Sentencing is not a time to be clearing a family's name; I'm not sure there is any time for it really. They weren't on trial and had nothing to do with the sentencing other than, as I said, as part of the perception of Trevor Casey.

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Spot on, particularly the part in bold. If the family wanted their name cleared, they could have released a statement to the press or some such. The mind boggles to be honest. I can't see what either of the politicians would have had to gain by doing this :confused:

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Originally Posted by Ambaiste!

Spot on, particularly the part in bold. If the family wanted their name cleared, they could have released a statement to the press or some such. The mind boggles to be honest. I can't see what either of the politicians would have had to gain by doing this :confused:

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Kathleen Lynch is a good friend of the father of Trevor Casey and in the house a good bit

It seems to me she put this friendship above her constituents(the victims) and tried to use her office inappropriately.

No idea about the other guy

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Originally Posted by micls

Kathleen Lynch is a good friend of the father of Trevor Casey and in the house a good bit

It seems to me she put this friendship above her constituents(the victims) and tried to use her office inappropriately.

No idea about the other guy

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I don't doubt she knows the family, but that still seems like a very naive thing for a politician to do, especially one that's been around as long as Kathleen Lynch. I wouldn't be surprised if there was more involved here than just a bad judgement call by these two. Gav mentioned that there was a priest involved somehow too...what's the story there?

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Originally Posted by Ambaiste!

Gav mentioned that there was a priest involved somehow too...what's the story there?

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There was also a similar letter submitted by the local priest....who is also the local priest of the girls

Jesus you couldn't make this stuff up. Both politicians must be made to resign immediately. ffs Bertie pockets a few grand on the side and the opposition destroy his career, then members of the same opposition do something as deplorable as this? the mind surely does boggle. Lynch and Murray IMO are SCUM!!!

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Originally Posted by Block G Raptor

Jesus you couldn't make this stuff up. Both politicians must be made to resign immediately. ffs Bertie pockets a few grand on the side and the opposition destroy his career, then members of the same opposition do something as deplorable as this? the mind surely does boggle. Lynch and Murray IMO are SCUM!!!

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I dont think theres any chance of them resigning.

But we will do everything in our power to ensure they arent re-elected. At least the poeple in our constituency now know who these people will support when something like this happens.

Well I've sent a rather tritely worded email to my Local Labour TD Joan Bruton ensuring her that if these too poor excuses for human beings are not removed from the party She nor her party will ever get another vote from me or my family, a few more like that and mountains might be moved. has anyone rang Joe Duffy yet? as we all know Joe really runs the country anyway



P.S. just like Micls my blood truely is boiling.

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Originally Posted by Block G Raptor

Well I've sent a rather tritely worded email to my Local Labour TD Joan Bruton ensuring her that if these too poor excuses for human beings are not removed from the party She nor her party will ever get another vote from me or my family, a few more like that and mountains might be moved. has anyone rang Joe Duffy yet? as we all know Joe really runs the country anyway



P.S. just like Micls my blood truely is boiling.

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Locally my family has contacted 96fm. Havnt really thought about nationally.

Getting them named and shamed in this area is what matters to us really. Given thats the people with the power to keep them out of government next time.

A few of us have emailed Labour and Kathleen Lynch and more will in the coming days.

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Originally Posted by Block G Raptor

Jesus you couldn't make this stuff up. Both politicians must be made to resign immediately. ffs Bertie pockets a few grand on the side and the opposition destroy his career, then members of the same opposition do something as deplorable as this? the mind surely does boggle. Lynch and Murray IMO are SCUM!!!

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Sure the "few grand" Bertie wouldn't even say his own minister that made representations on behalf of a peodophile, and a murderer, for early release was wrong, let alone sack him.

Politically it's a disaster, on a personal level it must be hard if they're friends of the family. Solution is to keep politicians out of the workings of the judicial system - policy and legislation only.

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Originally Posted by Macy

on a personal level it must be hard if they're friends of the family. Solution is to keep politicians out of the workings of the judicial system - policy and legislation only.

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Exactly.Why the hell is it relevant. Would the judge accept submissions from ordinary people about how much of a creep the man was? No. So politicians have no right to abuse their power in this way

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