22/04/2008

TD Refuses To Resign Over Rapist Support Letter

The Labour TD Kathleen Lynch has refused calls for her resignation over a letter of support she wrote for a convicted rapist.

The two victims of the rapist, Trevor Casey, have called for Minister Lynch to quit over letters she sent to a court during the trial saying the man was “of good stock”.

Ms Lynch publicly apologised over her decision to write the letter on behalf of Casey’s family. He was jailed last week for 13 years for the rape and sexual assault of the 14 and 16-year-old sisters of his then girlfriend.

Casey’s defence Counsel Mr Tim O'Leary handed in testimonials from several prominent people during the trial, which he said indicated that Casey came from "a family held in very high regard" in Cork.

"He comes from good stock and is of good stock," he said.

Campaigning author Barbara Naughton - whose best seller chronicled the abuse she herself suffered - has also endorsed the call for Ms Lynch’s resignation.

Ms Naughton was previously at the centre of a rape trial, which ultimately led to the resignation in 2002 of then minister, and Progressive Democrats co-founder Bobby Molloy.

Ms Lynch has repeated that she deeply regretted any hurt caused by her letter, but stressed that she would not be resigning and hoped to draw a line under the matter.

(Dw)


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