This article is from page 3 of the 2006-10-31 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
A 24-YEAR old Clare victim of child sex abuse has called on Fine Gael deputy, Pat Breen to apologise for his “crass insensitivity” in tabling a Dáil question enquiring into the possible early release of a convicted sex offender.
Last week, Deputy Breen caused a political storm after it emerged that he lodged a query into the possible early release of 74-year old bachelor farmer, Joseph Nugent who is due to complete his jail term in February 2008.
In his reply, Justice Minister, Michael McDowell ruled out the possibility an early release given the circumstances of the case.
Deputy Breen came under fire from party general election running mates, Cllr Madeleine Taylor Quinn and Cllr Joe Carey and in response, Deputy Breen accused them of making a political football out of the controversy.
But the 24-year old sex abuse victim says that Deputy Breen should apologise for the crass insensitivity in putting the question down in the first place.
“Did he not realise the negative impact and message tabling the question sends out to victims of sex abuse? No leeway should be given to sex abusers and instead of asking if this person should be released early, Deputy Breen should be asking for an extension to his sentence”.
“In this case, there were two male victims and the man received concurrent sentences. These sentences should have been consecutive. Why are people like Deputy Breen then asking questions about why they should be let out early?”
Arising from her own case, the 24-year old wrote to a number of Oireacthas members and councillors in Clare and said she didn’t even receive an acknowledgement from Deputy Breen’s office.
She said that she only received responses from Minister for State, Tony Killeen, Justice Minister, Michael McDowell and Cllr Brian Meaney in relation to the letter she circulated.
“I was furious when I read about the Dáil question being asked. The perpetrator didn’t even acknowledge the damage he caused.”
Deputy Breen was unavailable for comment last night. However, last week, he defended tabling the question, stating that he was not making representations on behalf of Mr Nugent and wouldn’t be in favour of an early release in the case.
He said that he was aware that Mr Nugent was a sex offender, but wasn’t aware of all of the facts in relation to the cases.