Eamon Dunphy

“Tom Humphries life is effectively over and has been for many years. He has to live with the shame. His own family, he has hurt. He has hurt this girl.

I feel dreadfully sorry for the victim. This is a tragedy for two families.

In these tragic circumstances, I think judge Karen O’Connor gave just about the right sentences. It’s not for me to judge but I don’t believe in trial by media.”

Eamon Dunphy on TV3’s Tonight Show last night aboiuyt the sentencing of journalist Tom Humphries.

Watch here

Meanwhile…

Yesterday: Two And A Half Years

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25 thoughts on “Trial Of Loyalty

  1. Anomanomanom

    I can’t see what’s wrong with what dunphy said. I can see what people are trying to turn it into “oh dunphy says underage sex is no big deal if there’s no grooming” its clear thats not what he meant. And by the way why the promoting of erica Flemings Twitter.

    1. man

      he said that 2.5 years is the correct sentence .. which it’s not. He’s ruined that girls life. It’s an example of people getting away with light sentences for sex crimes, and then having public figures (in this case Dunphy) saying that it’s fine. It discourages women to come forward after being attacked, because they see that eff all happens to the perpetrator in the end. There’s always more to things than meets the eye.

    2. Barry the Hatchet

      Nobody is trying to turn it into that. Dunphy said “Tom Humphries’ life is effectively over” and that is total bullpoop. His life is not over. The fact that he “has to live with the shame” is not something which should engender any sympathy for him. Getting caught and feeling embarrassed about being caught is not, in and of itself, sufficient atonement for a crime.

      The point is that the reporting on this case has been totally inappropriate. It’s similar to the reporting on the Clodagh Hawe murder case – all focused on what a lovely man the criminal was. Did you see the article in the Independent today? It’s 1,000 words about Humphries’ glittering career with 50 words about his crime tacked onto the end.

      I get it – criminals are people too. They are complex. They are not “evil”. They have other sides to them, they have done good things, and they have people who love them. But we can recognise this without engaging in such unpleasant and inappropriate hagiography, with scant regard for the victims of the crime.

  2. Mysterybeat

    This is wholly down to who he is. The RTE 9pm news led with this story last night and noted the 2.5year sentence. The next story was a 30 second piece about how a man who had abused his twin sisters for years was given 10 years.
    But guy no.2 was from Ballyfermot, so I guess he was probably intrinsically more evil.

    1. rotide

      So someone who commits a similar crime against more people, for a longer period of time gets a longer sentence. Where’s the issue here?

      1. Mysterybeat

        I’d say perp no.2 didn’t have the ‘great and good’ to speak up for him. I’d say he wasn’t assumed to be of better moral character by virtue of his place in society.
        Ireland’s class divide, that’s the problem.

        1. rotide

          You didn’t actually address my point, you just continued on your class war tangent.

          Should every sex abuse convictee recieve the same sentance regardless of the circumstances of the crime?

          That appears to be what you are saying.

          1. Gimme Shelter

            Your question is so stupid as to be literally beyond belief, and perhaps you really are that thick (there is a surprising amount of evidence to suggest this here every day) but I prefer to think of you as a particularly pernicious troll. Everyone knows the character, demeanour, dress sense and even the accent and bearing of the accused as well as their previous track record and origins, is taken into account during sentencing in Irish courts, a half an hour down the District Court in any town would illustrate this clearly to the man on the Clapham omnibus.

  3. Daisy Chainsaw

    Dunphy didn’t seem concerned that his friend had admitted to sex with an underage girl. Maybe Humphries spun it as her “seducing” him, he is quite the manipulator, after all. Not quite “asking for it”, but somehow complicit in her own rape. How very Hookish of him.

  4. Dhaughton99

    I remember Dunphy telling a story on the radio about trying to tackle Michael Jackson in the Shelbourne hotel over some child he was with. Anyone remember the details?

  5. guy bague

    Will the Irish Times #metoo brigade ask journalists SYD who worked with Humphries for a perspective? Will they boopity boop…

  6. Catherinecostelloe

    In fairness now one gives the reference before the court case is held and won’t know the full facts until case is in open court. Dont the majority of us take people as we find them? Are we to drop sex offenders from a multi storey car park? Hang them? Sure they have to eat, and survive somehow. Its unfair to attack people caught in the middle . They may have acted with best will in the world and got caught in crossfire.

    1. Barry the Hatchet

      Yes, those are clearly the only two options here. Kill all sex offenders, or talk about how lovely they really are and how the public embarrassment has ended their lives. I cannot conceive of any possible alternatives.

  7. newsjustin

    I’m not sure it’s a good idea that criminals, and in this case child abusers in particular, be effectively put beyond the pale, shunned by society and unworthy of any sympathy or pity whatsoever.

  8. Nigel

    If they want to stick by their friend, fine, let them. I doubt I could forgive someone for something like this. But they have public positions and public voices so we have to hear them trying to justify it on the national media. It’s not an edifying spectacle and can’t be much fun for the victim and family. To be fair I suppose they’re being challenged and criticised and do have the right to reply but still.

  9. Gorev Mahagut

    “It’s not for me to judge but I don’t believe in trial by media.” Said the celebrity. On television. As he delivered an opinion on the outcome of a recent trial. For money.

  10. Friscondo

    He was dealt with by the criminal justice system for the terrible crime he committed. The judiciary are independent in our democracy. A baying mob is an ugly sight, so put away the torches and pitchforks. This shameless grandstanding does nothing for the victim.

    1. Gimme Shelter

      While some of the commentary is unnecessarily incendiary and provocative, your presuming to speak on the behalf of the victim is even more risible, while in the same breath claiming to abhor ‘shameless grandstanding’.

  11. Candy Crush Guru

    Stand by your man, just as the now Prisoner once did when he wrote

    “More Sinned against than Sinning”

    This is a Main Stream Media policy

    No one within it can do no-wrong
    ask Terry Prone

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