AGNES WARREN,
Sir, - In the political fall-out from Bobby Molloy's resignation one could be forgiven for thinking that the biggest tragedy of the week was the end of a political career. It wasn't. The real tragedy is that a young girl was subjected to 10 years of systematic sexual abuse by her father.
The courage it took for this woman to report these crimes and take her father to court cannot be underestimated. Her father threatened her on numerous occasions and we only imagine the fear this woman had to overcome to place her trust in the judicial system.
If we are serious about making the law work more efficiently for survivors of sexual violence we must have a judicial system that is totally transparent, accountable and beyond reproach. Mr Justice O'Sullivan was right to bring this issue to public attention. This contact was totally inappropriate and rightfully led to Mr Molloy's resignation.
We must now make sure that these types of contacts do not happen again. We have to ask ourselves, however, how often they have happened in the past and what implications these may have had on previous sentencing. This careful scrutiny may take some courage on the part of the judiciary and politicians; this is nothing, however, compared with the courage displayed by the young woman in the case that led to this issue coming to our attention. We should all be grateful to her and all the other brave survivors who are forcing this country to stop sweeping sexual abuse under the carpet. - Yours, etc.,
AGNES WARREN,
Rape Crisis Network,
Flood Street,
Galway.
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A chara, - The Chief Justice should immediately request all judges to disclose all approaches concerning court cases from politicians or their representatives. He can then decide if further action is needed. That should help clear the air. - Is mise,
EOGHAN Ó LAOIRE,
Poulacurry North,
Glanmire,
Cork.