File photo of a football pitch Image: Shutterstock/mark_gusev File photo of a football pitch Image: Shutterstock/mark_gusev THE KERRY RAPE and Sexual Abuse Centre is set to write to GAA officials in the county next week to formally offer sensitivity and awareness training amid ongoing controversy about the submission of character references in sexual assault and rape trials.
She imposed a sentence of eight years, with 18 months suspended, and said the court had little scope to reduce this because of the absence of a guilty plea or of remorse.In a character reference, John Diony O’Connor, who is now vice-chair of Dingle GAA, spoke highly of Quaid’s good character and his commitment to Dingle GAA.Kerry GAA has distanced itself from the reference, saying O’Connor was acting in a personal capacity.
“The same applies in other areas of civic life ie the positions people adopt in politics or referenda, which sometimes is linked to the profile they have because of a link to our games.” as an Officer of the GAA. Furthermore, any character reference, whether provided by an Officer or a Member should specify that it is being provided in a personal capacity and not in any way on behalf of or as an Officer or a Member of the GAA. Following on from the controversy, Vera O’Leary, director of the Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, offered sensitivity and awareness training to the GAA in Kerry during an appearance on Livelive last week.
A GAA spokesperson said the issue of officials and members in Kerry taking up sensitivity and awareness training is a matter for Kerry GAA. Repeated efforts by The Journal to contact Kerry GAA this week were not successful. “I would like the judiciary to come out and state maybe very clearly that they’re not used as a reason to reduce sentencing when somebody is found guilty or pleads guilty [to sexual assault].”
O’Leary said, even if they state they are acting in a personal capacity, a reference letter from an official in a body such as the GAA, could be seen to carry more weight and imply the organisation supports the guilty party. “We’ve always said that sexual violence affects the community. The victim is obviously the person that’s most hurt and most traumatised, but it also filters out, and the ripple effect of it on the community can be really, really traumatic and difficult.”
O’Leary said the juxtaposition of the reaction to these two famous Kerry court cases show that some progress has been made.
Tell them to piss off
Publican should be boycotted and the GAA officer made stand down