I would kill rapist of my children, admits councillor

A CORK CITY Sinn Féin councillor has said child rapists should “hang upside down and have their fingers cut off so they could die a slow, painful death”.

Farranree-based Jonathan O’Brien said he could not fathom why a politician with Kathleen Lynch’s expertise would write a reference letter on behalf of a convicted rapist.

He was speaking after Labour TD Lynch apologised for writing a letter stating the family of convicted rapist Trevor Casey had good standing in the community. Mr O’Brien said the personal relationship between Ms Lynch and the family was irrelevant.

“I have tried to put myself in her shoes to understand why she felt the need to intervene on behalf of Trevor Casey. Kathleen is a family friend of the Caseys and was probably asked by the parents of Trevor Casey to write a letter outlining the good nature of the family.

“As an experienced politician, Kathleen could and should have said that it would not be appropriate for her to get involved in a criminal case.”

In an internet posting, the 36-year-old councillor went further and said, as a father, he makes no apology for saying, if Casey had done a similar act to his family, he would cut his fingers off and hang him upside down until he was dead. While his political reaction was to call on Ms Lynch to apologise his feelings were stronger.

“If anybody did that to my daughters I would be afraid of what I would do to them. I know it is extreme but, as a father, I could not stand by and do nothing.”

Mr O’Brien wants the law changed to prevent public representatives making submissions in criminal cases.