JUST OVER A year ago, Daniel Ramamoorthy, a one-time government advisor, was convicted of sexually exploiting a 13-year-old boy at a Christian children’s camp. Although a first conviction, he was sentenced to two years and four months in prison.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court also heard Ramamoorthy was found with three images and one video depicting young boys engaged in sexual activity with each other and with an unknown adult man.

Ramamoorthy appealed the severity of his prison sentence. That appeal was rejected. But it was during that hearing at the Court of Appeal that Mr Justice John Edwards noted that not one of those who had given ‘character’ references for the defendant had mentioned the crimes of which the defendant had been convicted, or the age of the child.

One of those character references was given by former Fianna Fáil TD Jim Glennon. In acknowledging that he had given a reference, Glennon apologised to the victim and their family for any additional pain and distress he may have caused.

Former TD Jim Glennon apologised for being 'wrong' and 'naive' to provide a character reference for a man accused of the sexual exploitation of a 13-year-old boy in 2017.

At this late stage, Glennon reflected that he had failed to give proper weight........

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