It wasn’t a character reference, says TD of letter to trial judge
‘It is a blight on the town’ ‘Brave man’ to write a testimony
A FIANNA Fáil TD has denied that a letter he wrote to a judge in a violent assault case was a character reference.
Earlier this week, Longford Circuit Court gave suspended sentences to three men, Denis, Thomas and Willie Hannafin, who were involved in a vicious assault in June of last year.
The assault was part of an ongoing and brutal Traveller feud in Longford town.
During proceedings it was revealed that local TD Joe Flaherty had written to the judge on behalf of the three defendants and said they were likeable family men.
And yesterday, the Longford TD told the Irish Daily Mail that he was asked to write the letter on behalf of the Hannafin family and that it was intended to denounce the feud.
Deputy Flaherty said: ‘No I am not giving a character reference, I’d dispute that. It is not a character reference.’
He added: ‘It is a letter outlining my position on feuding and my position and view on feuding. My view is clearly articulated in that. It is a blight on the town and these men are answerable for that.’
The victim of the attack last June, Ronan Stokes, was stabbed in the back by one of the men while another swung an axe. Mr Stokes was put in a headlock and punched repeatedly. He later required 16 stitches to his back. In his letter to the presiding judge in the case, Keenan Johnson, Deputy Flaherty said that it was ‘by no means an attempt to sway the court’.
In the letter, Deputy Flaherty wrote: ‘Notwithstanding the fact that I am deeply disappointed by their actions and the impact that these actions have had on the town and county, I would know the men before the court and many members of their family.
‘I and the Longford public are repulsed by feuding and it has been a scourge on the town and county and a massive drain on Garda resources. Ordinarily, they are likeable men, very committed to family and I am aware that a shadow of tragedy has hung over them in recent years,’ he wrote.
He added: ‘All three men are extremely capable, very sharp and more than familiar with hard work. I would like to think and hope that the actions before the court are not likely to happen again but, unfortunately, feuding has been a huge problem and stigma for Longford town.’
Deputy Flaherty added that the men must accept ‘whatever punishment that the court deems appropriate’.
Judge Johnson praised Deputy Flaherty for sending the letter.
According to the Longford Leader, Judge Johnson called Deputy Flaherty a ‘brave man’ to write a testimony about these three individuals when there is ‘such public abhorrence for this type of behaviour’.
The judge later said that the letter served as a good character reference for the Hannafin family.
One of Mr Flaherty’s constituents called the Irish Daily Mail to complain about the letter and said the feud has terrorised Longford town.
When asked about the judge’s reaction to his letter, Deputy Flaherty said that it is a question for the judge and reiterated that it is ‘not a character reference’.
‘The letter quite clearly states that I’ve been asked on behalf of the Hannafin family to write to the court in relation to the three defendants ahead of sentencing. It does not state at any point that it is a character reference,’ he remarked.
‘At no point did I attempt to make a case for clemency for either of the three men.’
Willie Hannafin, 32, of Dublin Road, Longford; Thomas Hannafin, 40, also of Dublin Road, Longford; and Denis Hannafin, 39, of Curry, Athlone Road, Longford, walked free from court this week after receiving suspended sentences.