Campaigners criticise secrecy around identity of former TD who gave reference for sex offender
Daniel Ramamoorthy's (pictured) appeal against the severity of his sentence for the sexual exploitation of a teenager was rejected on Tuesday. pic: IrishPhotoDesk.ie
Campaigners against sexual violence have hit out at the secrecy surrounding the identity of a TD who provided a character reference for a man convicted of sexually exploiting a 13-year-old child.
On Tuesday, former government adviser Daniel Ramamoorthy, aged 40, from Whitebarn Rd, Rathfarnham, Dublin, who was convicted of the sexual exploitation of a teenager, saw his appeal against the severity of his sentence rejected.
The appeals court, however, refused to name the former TD who provided him with a testimonial for his sentence hearing last March.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris have both urged the TD who gave a character reference to Ramamoorthy to come forward.
Concerns about such references have been informed by earlier cases.
Kildare native Joseph Dempsey, who has since died, was jailed for six years in 2004 after being found guilty of raping his nephew. During his trial, a character reference was read out on his behalf from TD Seán Ó Fearghaíl.
The victim's sister, Emma Jane Dempsey, said this week that the same system shielding the identity of a public representative once worked against her own family, at a time when her brother was trying to come to terms with sexual abuse.
She claimed: “Ireland has never been on the side of victims."
In the letter read to the court, dated February 3, 2006, Mr Ó Fearghaíl wrote that he had been asked to provide a reference “in the context of which he finds himself in”.
“I know Mr Dempsey to be a member of a very large, well known and well respected local family,” stated the letter.
“As a local resident myself and in the course of my constituency work I have been acquainted with Mr Joe Dempsey. In the course of my contacts with him I have never had any reason to question his decency or integrity.”
He said while he was “not at all familiar with the circumstances surrounding the crimes”, he acknowledged they were “grievous in nature” and said the testimonial was offered “not to in any way condone what has happened but simply to illustrate his standing in the community”.
Ms Dempsey said the impact of that letter has never gone away.
“He sent an email years later with a general apology,” she said. “But realistically, nothing was ever done to take it back. That was a glowing recommendation for a predator. Then I hear this news this week and nothing has changed."
Ms Dempsey said victims are often treated with suspicion, rather than support. “As soon as you are a victim, you’re seen as scheming, and conniving. You’re seen as a troublemaker.
“People ask why victims withdraw. This is why.”
Former prison officer Harry Daly was jailed in 2011 after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault of his daughter, Shaneda Daly, from Shannon, Co Clare.
Now a campaigner for abuse survivors, Ms Daly said this week: “It's wrong for any person... to give a reference for someone in court with charges of sexual violence.
“Imagine how the victim feels hearing this reference in court. No reference is given in relation to the victims. No one talks about the lifelong effect and how they will never be the same person again.”
Meanwhile, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said the refusal to identify the TD who provided a reference for Ramamoorthy reflects a broader lack of transparency in how influence operates within the justice system.
Chief executive Rachel Morrogh said recent legal reforms were designed to curb exactly this type of intervention.
“In summer 2024, the legislation on character references for sexual crimes was amended to stop the casual provision of them to court,” she said.
“This meant that anyone who wanted a person convicted of sexual offences to get a lesser sentence for reasons of ‘good character’ would have to make an oath or swear an affidavit… and could also be cross-examined on it in court.”
Ms Morrogh said the law recognised “the grave harm caused to victims” and made clear that such references must be treated with the utmost seriousness.
“What the former TD seems to have willfully ignored is the incompatibility between the ‘good’ person they know and the sexual offender who preyed on the victim,” she said.
“Providing a character reference to reduce the sentence for someone convicted of a sexual crime is morally indefensible and shows an utter disregard for the harm caused to the victim.”
For a current or former TD to do so, she said, is “incredibly concerning”.
Ms Dempsey said the secrecy only “deepens the sense of injustice” and called for political parties to take a clear and public stance.
“There has never been a proper policy on this,” she said. “Parties need to take an official stand and it needs to be on the side of victims, not predators.”
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