I’ve shouted at the radio a lot today and been absolutely horrified at what I heard from Kerry, sometime mid-morning I knew it was time to find something positive to do. So I suggested that if anyone had a bit of spare money that they usually give to a group at this time of year that they do something special with it.
It’s 26 years since the Kerry Babies case where a woman was shunned by her community and treated appallingly by Gardai, 16 years since Lavinia Kerwick was not believed and indeed people thought her attacker who was set free was found innocent but he was guilty, 15 years since another case in Kerry Mark Coughlan details on Irish Election and again in 2009 when a man sexually assaults a woman and is convicted it feels like being back at square one due to her appalling treatment by those living around her
When Joanne Hayes was going through the tribunals and horrific questioning in the 1980′s women all over Ireland got the money together to buy her flowers and roses appeared from everywhere. I’m suggesting you send money to the Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre so that they can continue to help other women, sit in court rooms, listen to them and provide counselling. I spoke to their staff today and although they don’t have an online way of donating they do have bank account details on their website and you can also send cheques. They and the survivor in this case have had a great amount of support today and I hope it continues.
So many other groups supporting women, men and children at risk in lots of ways are closing down this month throughout the country. We have to show Danny Foley and those that support him and those like him who think they can get away with it. Most importantly we have to show the women who report sexual assaults and rapes that reporting them is important and that they will be supported.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=34e247bd-9ba4-4d15-9970-51232c6c0c5b)
It was such a dissappointing thing to read. I couldn’t quite believe it when I saw it on the IT website yesterday. I guess this is why such a pathetic number of rape cases lead to a conviction or are even reported. The sad truth is that men like Danny Foley and his supporters normally can get away with it. It is for this reason that a large, public show of support, such as Suzy suggested, is vital. It won’t fix things completely, but hopefully it’ll make things a little better.
I once knew a girl who told me she’d been raped on two separate occasions, and because of the way she was treated by Gardai on the first attack she didn’t bother to report the second.
@Damien: i assume you actually meant ‘woman’ rather than ‘girl’.
On the Kerry case, if we can tear ourselves away from Nohopenhagen… there are some critical cases about the policing of sexuality in this State. What made me so annoyed too was how a priest was a character witness FFS.
Wot with the economy and all, it seems its back to the 80′s – and that is frightening!
BTW: your “clock” on the blog when you post comments is an hour ahead (?)
How Listowel Treats a Sexual Assault Victim | Clare Herbert // Dec 18, 2009 at 10:36
[...] can send her something care of the Kerry Rape Crisis Centre, 11 Denny Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry. As Maman Poulet suggests, maybe you could also donate some [...]
Where the hell are the decent people of Kerry hiding?? I have not heard one word about any form of organised local community support for the survivor (and I deliberately call this woman a survivor, as that is what she is to have continued brave this).
Yes I know that this could have happened in any part of Ireland, but right now it is happening in Listowel and I want to know where are the voices of the decent people of Listowel???
Eye for an eye, is it? « The Unemployed Blog // Dec 18, 2009 at 12:13
[...] run free. Mark Coughlan has an excellent post on the incident on Irish Election (with thanks to Suzy). However, someone by the name of “Joan? has posted a comment in response that at best is [...]