Madam, – I live in Galway, but am from Listowel. It distresses me to see the reputation of the town tarnished by the 50 men who showed such public support for Danny Foley after he had been found guilty of sexual assault. I hold the hope that in showing their support for Mr Foley, they nevertheless condemn the crime he was convicted of.
The courageous young woman who brought this case deserves compassion and support. She continues to be victimised by those who damn her for standing up for herself. I believe that Listowel will recover because I believe – and hope – that the majority of its townsfolk will stand by this young woman.
But Listowel is a town and at the centre of this is a human being who has been traumatised and robbed of a precious part of her humanity. It behoves us all to help her in her recovery, just as it does to help the recovery of all victims of sexual abuse. To lose confidence and trust in oneself, to lose trust in others, to lose hope and to live in fear is a far greater sentence than seven years in jail with two suspended. – Yours, etc,