TD who gave reference to accused in child sex abuse trial should come forward, Tánaiste says

Simon Harris said he was not aware of who the TD in question is

Simon Harris: 'I think if people are giving a reference, they should have the courage to put their name to it.'

Tánaiste Simon Harris has called on the TD who provided a character reference for a former Government adviser charged with sexual exploitation of a child to come forward.

Last week, Judge John Edwards told a court at a hearing for Daniel Ramamoorthy, aged 40, that it was “quite extraordinary” that a TD who provided a character reference failed to mention the child or the crime. 

The identity of the TD was not disclosed during the court hearing.

Speaking on Sunday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he did not believe any public representative should be providing a character reference in such a case.

The Tánaiste agreed with him and said he was also not aware of who the TD in question is. He also called for the TD to come forward and reveal their identity.

“In the last Dáil [then justice] minister Helen McEntee, brought forward legislation around this whole area of character witnesses and the likes,” the Tánaiste said.

I think if people are giving a reference, they should have the courage to put their name to it.

“If there is a TD in Dáil Éireann who has done this, they should just tell us who it is.

“But I certainly agree fully with the Taoiseach’s comments. I think it is not acceptable.” 

The Taoiseach said on Sunday that as a “general principle”, he did not believe any politician should be “giving character references — particularly in cases that involve sexual exploitation or sexual abuse or anything of that nature”.

• Louise Burne is a political correspondent with the Irish Examiner