Unusual scenes at sentencing of Kerry man for sex assault
A group of up to 50 people queued to shake the hands of a convicted sex offender prior to his sentencing at a court in Kerry, according to a report this morning.
The unusual scene took place in Tralee Circuit Criminal Court yesterday prior to sentencing of Dany Foley, of Meen in Listowel, convicted two weeks ago for sexually assaulting a 24-year-old woman in a car park in Listowel in 2008.
According to the Irish Examiner, a group of 50 people, believed to be neighbours and friends of Mr Foley, approached the convicted man in the courthouse prior to the entry of Judge Donagh McDonagh, with most shaking his hand and some embracing him before taking their places in the public gallery.
Judge McDonagh during the subsequent hearing rejected a character reference for Mr Foley from Fr Sean Sheehy, parish priest of Castlegregory, who said the 34-year-old bouncer had always struck him as having the highest respect for women.
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".
He sentenced Foley to seven years in jail for the assault, with the last two suspended.
