"THE courtroom witnessed extraordinary scenes as 50 people, mostly middle-aged and elderly men, queued past the press box to shake the hand of the convicted man, and hug him after he was brought from the cell to the dock." (Irish Independent, December 17)
When I read this in the US on the internet, I could be forgiven for thinking it was some kind of perverted initiation rite into the Hells Angels in Devil's Canyon. But in Listowel, the town of the late, great John B Keane, who gave us so many humorous and dark vignettes of life in Kerry?
I am afraid that Listowel, forever after will be known as the town where 50 morally handicapped bogmen shook the hand of a man convicted of sexual assault, as if he had just scored the winning goal for Kerry in an All-Ireland final.
May God forgive Listowel, because nobody else will.
Bartholomew O'Dwyer
Cumberland, Maine, US
I WOULD just like to express my horror and disgust at the actions of Fr Sean Sheehy and his supporters during the sentencing of convicted sex offender Danny Foley.
Foley has been convicted of one of the most heinous and degrading crimes a member of society can commit and to see a priest blatantly support him is absolutely sickening.
The Catholic Church has alienated enough people with the abuse of children in the past and you would think that a priest would play no part in the support of this animal.
Danny Foley's victim's life will never be the same again but are these supporters even giving her a second thought?
I hope that no daughter, sister, wife or friend of these men ever experiences a rape or sexual assault as it seems clear that they would get no support from them.
I am a young woman from Co Kerry and I go out and have a few drinks at the weekend; and whether you have had one drink or 10, sexual abuse is sexual abuse.
No one deserves to be attacked in any way, shape or form. I think it is very clear that Danny Foley does not have the "utmost respect for women".
The victim should never apologise for bringing Foley to court as she has taken a dangerous predator off our streets. Anyone who makes her feel guilty should be ashamed.
AE Carroll
Co Kerry