Former Fianna Fáil TD, Jim Glennon, has admitted that he gave a character reference for Daniel Ramamoorthy, a former government adviser who was convicted of the sexual exploitation of a 13-year-old boy in 2017.
Mr Glennon, who was TD for Dublin North from 2002-2007, and is a former Ireland rugby international, issued a statement through a PR firm today.
He said that it had been “an error of judgment” to write the character reference, and offered an “unreserved apology to the victim and to their family” and was “deeply sorry for contributing to their suffering”.
During Ramamoorthy’s bid to have a two years and four months’ sentence imposed on him in March last year reduced, Judge John Edwards said one of the references handed in on his behalf was from a TD – adding that it was “quite extraordinary” that the TD and others failed to mention the victim or the “vile nature” of the crime in their testimonials on Mr Ramamoorthy’s behalf.
“I confirm that I am the former TD who submitted a character reference for the convicted Daniel Ramamoorthy, as referred to by the judge in the Court of Criminal Appeal earlier this week,” Mr Glennon said in today’s statement.
“The crimes committed by Mr Ramamoorthy were vile and of the most egregious nature. I offer my unreserved apology to the victim and to their family. Writing the letter was an error of judgement.
“I recognise that my actions may have added to the pain and distress already caused by the horrific abuse they endured, and I am deeply sorry for contributing to their suffering.
“I failed to give proper weight to the gravity of the crimes, to the trauma experienced by the victim and their family, and the courage it takes to report such abuse. I was extremely naive and I was wrong.
“I will be writing to the family of the victim, through the Courts Service, to express my sincere apologies directly.
“I will also be resigning from any and all employment, consultancies, and directorships that I currently hold,” he said.