Sil Fox tells of his ‘months of hell’ as he is cleared of sexual assault on a woman in pub
All my shows were cancelled in 48 hours, says comic (87)
VETERAN comedian Sylvester ‘Sil’ Fox says he has been through “months of hell” fighting an allegation that he groped a woman while they had a selfie taken in a Dublin pub.
Mr Fox said he was delighted to have been “completely exonerated” after a court yesterday acquitted him of sexual assault.
He walked free after Judge Paula Murphy dismissed the charge, ruling that there was insufficient evidence against him and he had no case to answer.
The judge said there were inconsistencies between the woman’s evidence and CCTV footage.
Mr Fox (87), of Wellington Lawn, Templeogue, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting the woman at a bar in the south city centre on December 17, 2018.
In a non-jury trial at Dublin District Court, the middle-aged complainant had alleged that Mr Fox assaulted her after agreeing to her request for a selfie while she was on a Christmas night out with friends.
The judge said the woman had given evidence that Mr Fox touched her with his left hand while the photo was being taken and the alleged assault had lasted around 30 seconds.
Judge Murphy said the complainant accepted on viewing the CCTV footage that Mr Fox’s hand was on the table for the entire time that the photo was taken.
There were only three seconds after when his hand was not visible, the judge said. The woman was “unable to explain” this inconsistency.
“In the footage, there is no indication that something untoward occurred,” Judge Murphy said.
“There is no indication the complainant was upset or distressed.”
In addition, when the woman was seen to beckon Mr Fox over to her table for the selfie, the encounter “appears to be pleasant and convivial”.
Afterwards, Mr Fox was seen to leave at a “leisurely pace”, and not “skulking away”, as described by the woman.
Mr Fox made a statement on the steps of the Criminal Courts of Justice shortly afterwards.
“I am delighted that I have been completely exonerated of all charges by the court today,” he said, flanked by his son Cyril and solicitor Michael French.
“This case should never have been taken. Nothing untoward or inappropriate ever happened as the CCTV coverage made crystal-clear.
“I strongly believe that the DPP has some serious questions to answer as to why they took this case.
Stress
“I have been through months of hell ever since this case was first publicised. My health, physically and mentally, has deteriorated and I have endured countless nights with little or no sleep.
“At 87 years of age I found it very difficult to cope with all this stress.”
Mr Fox said he had been in show business for 60 years without a blemish until the accusation surfaced.
“It has unfairly tarnished my reputation and good name. In the space of 48 hours after it hit the news last July, every show or concert I was booked for was cancelled,” he said.
“I have not worked a day since.
“I am glad it is finally over and I have been found completely innocent. I hope my reputation will be restored in time.”