Ireland Online
December 19, 2009
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/ireland/kerry-sex-assualt-victim-never-felt-so-alone-438932.html
Ireland -- The woman at the centre of the Listowel sexual assault case today spoke out about her experiences, saying she "never felt so alone in all her life" as when friends and neighbours of the convicted man queued to shake his hand.
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| NAZVANIE_FOTO Photo by |
Around 50 people, including the parish priest of Castlegregory Fr Sean Sheehy, queued up in Tralee Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday last to shake hands with her attacker, 35-year-old Danny Foley of Meen, Listowel.
The show of support took place prior to Foley being sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with two suspended, for the assault which happened in a nightclub car park in the Kerry town in June 2008.
Father Sheehy, who provided a character reference for Foley which was rejected by Judge Donagh McDonagh, stepped down from his parish work yesterday with immediate effect.
The Judge also described the woman's victim impact statement, in which she said she felt judged by the people of north Kerry for pursuing the case, but was not sorry for telling the truth, as one of "remarkable dignity".
The victim - who wishes to remain anonymous - this afternoon spoke out about the controversy at a press conference at the Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre.
"During and after it (the sentencing hearing), I felt as low as possible," she said.
She said she felt very hurt by the actions of some people in the courtroom, saying that even though her counsellor and sister were with her at the time, all she wanted to do was "crawl up into a ball".
"I felt alone," she said. "I've never felt so much alone in my life."
"I felt the courtroom was full of people who supported him and who were against me, as if I were on trial, and as if I was the guilty person."
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