Listowel sexual assault victim to give press conference

The victim of a sexual assault in Listowel, Co Kerry, will tell her side of the story later.

35-year-old Danny Foley was sentenced to seven years for the attack this week - however, controversy erupted after a group of around 50 people queued to shake his hand as he was sentenced.

The victim wishes to remain anonymous and will have her identity protected.

On Wednesday, Mr Foley from Listowel was sentenced to seven years for the sexual assault of a woman outside a nightclub in the town in June 2008.

Fifty people - including the parish priest of Castlegregory Fr Sean Sheehy - queued in Tralee courthouse to shake the hand of the man later described by the judge as having told "lie after lie" about the incident.

Father Sheehy - who acted as a character witness for the accused during the trial - stepped down from his parish work yesterday with immediate effect.

Later today, the victim of the assault will hold a press conference in at the Kerry Rape Crisis Centre in Tralee.

The young woman - who was waiting to give her victim impact statement in court when the queue of people began to form - feels she may have to leave the town.