Cork North Central Labour TD Kathleen Lynch has apologised to the two victims of a rapist for writing a letter to the sentencing judge, testifying to the good character of the man's parents.
The letter was presented to Judge Patrick McCarthy by defence counsel last Friday when he was imposing a sentence on 31-year-old Trevor Casey, from Closes Road, Fairhill, Cork city, for the rape of his ex-girlfriend's sisters in 2003 and 2004. Casey was sentenced to 14 years in jail.
Ms Lynch said the letter was written "in good faith", but she now accepted it was "inappropriate" for a TD to have become involved in such a serious case.
"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," she said.