Former Fianna Fáil TD Jim Glennon confirms he gave sex offender a character reference

FORMER FIANNA FÁIL TD Jim Glennon has come forward as the former politician who gave sex offender Daniel Ramamoorthy a character reference.

Glennon, a former Irish international rugby player, was a TD for Dublin North from 2002 to 2007.  

Ramamoorthy is a one-time government advisor who was convicted of sexually exploiting a 13-year-old boy at a Christian children’s camp.

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.

There was public outcry when the judge presiding over Ramamoorthy’s criminal case said it was “quite extraordinary” that multiple character references were provided to the court on behalf of the former government advisor, including one from a TD.

The judge later clarified that it was a former TD who had done so. The Court of Appeal earlier this week refused to reveal the identity of the former politician.

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In a statement issued today, Glennon confirmed he was the former TD who provided the reference and apologised for doing so.

“The crimes committed by Mr Ramamoorthy were vile and of the most egregious nature. I offer my unreserved apology to the victim and to their family. Writing the letter was an error of judgement.

“I recognise that my actions may have added to the pain and distress already caused by the horrific abuse they endured, and I am deeply sorry for contributing to their suffering.”

He said he failed to give proper weight to “the gravity of the crimes” and the trauma experienced by the victim and their family.

“I was extremely naive and I was wrong,” he wrote.

He said he would be writing to the family of the victim to apologise, and he will also resign all employment, consultancies, and directorships he currently holds.

Glennon has been the non-executive chairman of PR firm Edelman since 2008, when he stepped back from politics.

At an appeal hearing last week, Mr Justice John Edwards noted that not a “single one” of those who provided a reference for 40-year-old Ramamoorthy mentioned the victim or the “vile nature” of his crime.

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