Humphries sentence labelled ‘a joke’
A WOMAN who was abused as a child by her father has said Tom Humphries’ two-and-half-year sentence was a ‘slap in the face’ for vulnerable victims.
Shaneda Daly, a mother of six, joined other victims in criticising the sentence handed down by Judge Karen O’Connor this week, calling it an ‘absolute joke’.
She told the Irish Daily Mail: ‘Sentences like that are the reason people don’t want to make statements any more. What is the point in it all? By the time you make your statement, and go through the whole court process, it’s hardly worth them walking into the prison.
‘It [Humphries’ sentence] will definitely stop other victims coming forward. That is a fact.’
Ms Daly, who lives in Shannon, Co. Clare, waived her right to anonymity in September 2011 after her exprison officer father Harry Daly was jailed for 15 years for raping and abusing her repeatedly over a decade in what she described as their ‘house of doom’.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday, Judge O’Connor gave ex-journalist Humphries a two-anda-half year sentence for defilement of a child under 17, plus a two-year sentence for grooming the victim from the age of 14.
The court heard that over three months, he exchanged at least 16,000 text messages back and forth with her. But because the sentences will run concurrently, rather than consecutively, Humphries will be out of prison by August 2019 at the latest, once remission for good behaviour is taken into account.
Ms Daly – who has set up her own Facebook support group for victims of abuse, called Survivors Side by Side – said: ‘I think none of these sentences should be concurrent. The perpetrators should do the time for each charge.’
Another victim of severe childhood abuse, Fiona Doyle, told the Mail last night: ‘Why is no one doing anything to stop these ridiculous sentences being handed down?
‘I hope the DPP appeals against the sentence. But most of all, I hope that girl gets help and support, and knows that she is not to blame.’
Councillor Mannix Flynn told the Mail: ‘There is again the opportunity to appeal to the DPP for a sentencing review in light of another lenient sentence.’
Abuse victim and former Labour Party senator Máiría Cahill was another to speak out, remarking: ‘The sentencing doesn’t reflect the gravity of the abuse in this incidence as far as I am concerned.’
Speaking on Newstalk’s Lunchtime Live, Ms Cahill added: ‘We need to start getting the message through that when people come forward to disclose abuse, not only will they be believed but they will know we will support them every step along the way.
‘When it gets through to the criminal justice system, the message we need to send to people that are abused is that we will get it right.’