Abuse victim condemns TD's question on offender

A Co Clare victim of child sex abuse has called on Fine Gael TD Pat Breen to apologise for his "crass insensitivity" in tabling a Dáil question inquiring into the possible early release of a convicted sex offender.

Last week, it emerged that Mr Breen had tabled the Dáil question into the possible early release of 74-year old bachelor farmer Joseph Nugent.

Nugent, from Dromellihy, Cree, is due for release in February 2008 and the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, has ruled out the possibility of an early release given the circumstances of the case.

Mr Breen came under criticism from his Fine Gael general election running mates in Clare, Cllr Madeleine Taylor Quinn and Cllr Joe Carey. In response, Mr Breen accused them of making a political football out of the controversy.

The 24-year-old Co Clare victim of child sex abuse said yesterday: "Deputy Breen should apologise for the crass insensitivity in putting the question down in the first place. Did he not realise the negative impact and message tabling the question sends out to victims of sex abuse?"

She added: "In this case, there were two male victims and the man received concurrent sentences. These sentences should have been consecutive."

Arising from her own case, the woman wrote to a number of Oireachtas members and councillors in Clare and she said she didn't even receive an acknowledgment from Mr Breen's office.

The woman said that she received responses only from Minister of State Tony Killeen, the Minister for Justice and Cllr Brian Meaney (Greens) in relation to the letter she circulated.

She added: "I was furious when I read about the Dáil question being asked. It was completely unjustified. The perpetrator in this case didn't even acknowledge the damage that he caused."

Mr Breen was unavailable for comment last night.

However, last week, he defended his action by stating that he tabled the question after being approached by a relative of Mr Nugent to inquire about the question of early release at a clinic.

He said: "I was not making representations on behalf of Mr Nugent and I wouldn't be in favour of an early release."