A Full Picture

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Annie Lafferty (above), who waived her right to anonymity during the prosecution of her father Maurice Lafferty (top). He was jailed yesterday after pleading guilty to raping his teenage daughter on dates between 1 November 2010 and 30 June 2011

Concerned writes:

It really makes me so mad that the Irish Times used a giant photo of the rape victim rather than the rapist. She took the brave decision to waive her anonymity so that her father could be named, shamed and identified as a potential threat to children in the future. Not so that she would be pictured and her image as a victim used. There should be a code of honour amongst journalists that they don’t use the victim’s photo but the rapists in these cases.

‘My cry for help was ignored,’ says woman as her father gets 11 years for regularly raping her (Breakingnews)

Pics: Rollingnews/Collins

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18 thoughts on “A Full Picture

  1. Ian-O

    Sickening alright.

    But the Irish media circle jerk will not break ranks and criticize the above.

  2. Tom

    Come on. When they do the opposite you get people complaining that they are focussing on the perpetrator and not the victim.

  3. Dr.Fart MD

    ‘honour’ is the first thing you have to rid yourself of when you begin working in Irish media. And worldwide media too. When you see Trump attack the press, and the press respond saying the integrity of journalism is being disrespected, i think it’s funny these gutter trolls making it out like theyre some kind of pulitzer prize winning investigative journalists exposing truths in the name of integrity, when in actuallity 90% of them are mouthpieces and shills for their paymasters. (Don’t get me wrong. trumps press attacks are dangerous, but the targets are absolutely no angels)

  4. small ads

    Why not report rape in a dáiríre fashion rather than using photos? Why the need for any photos?

    1. Spaghetti Hoop

      Well, rapists are often out freely walking the streets in no time so knowing what the durty boo boo looks like might prevent further attacks.

  5. baz

    The oirish times doesn’t know how to handle situations where they can’t copy and paste from the guardian.

    1. Cian

      My impression of the Irish Times is that the photograph tends to be different from all the other papers. They don’t follow the herd – but usually have something interesting or artistic. They tend to have free-lance photographers, and they are often not ‘news’ – but just something interesting.

  6. A Person

    Whilst I agree with the sentiment, I believe in this instance that the photo is a very good one. It shows the distress of a victim and engenders sympathy for her.

    1. Ian-O

      Perhaps, but I’d imagine the majority of people would already have that sympathy when you consider she was violently raped by her own father at that age.

      I’d prefer to see the animal who carried out the attacks have his fact plastered everywhere so in 3 or 4 years when he gets out (this is Ireland, its highly possible) at least people can remember who he is and treat him accordingly.

  7. Conall

    The victim chose to waive her anonymity and the photograph is respectful to her and if anything positive towards rape victims. I see no harm in it.

    If there are no photos of rape victims it helps people deny to themselves that these things happen, that leads to further crimes etc.

    As a general rule, waiving of anonymity by victims whose accuser has been convicted helps reduce the stigma of sexual assault generally and also reminds other people that it is out there as a risk for them and others.

    It takes a lot of courage and no one should be forced to waive their anonymity but if they do so it is presumably because they want what happened to them to be known and a photo of them outside the court hugging supporters is hardly inconsistent with this.

    1. ReproBertie

      The photo the OP objects too is the tearful one on the front page of the Irish Times, not the one BS has posted.

    2. Mickey Twopints

      Did you see the picture of Annie Lafferty (that’s her name, fyi, not “the victim”) on the front page of today’s Irish Times?

  8. Slightly Bemused

    I have been thinking about this all day, since both the first comment on De Tuesday Papers, and this thread. I am a little conflicted.

    Most papers talking about the case of the brutal rape and murder of Ana Krigal show pictures of the victim (court required anonymity of the accused notwithstanding) in part to refuse any right to brag, to claim celebrity, of the perpetrators. This was requested and largely done in a number of other cases (including the events in New Zealand) for the purpose to deny the perpetrator celebrity and to acknowledge the victims.

    In this case, the lady should be proclaimed not just a survivor, but a victor. Putting her face on the papers, as she has waived her right to anonymity, and so long as it is done with her knowledge and permission, proclaims to the world that she is the stronger, he the weaker person. This should (and I believe it is her intent) give hope and courage to those who have not yet come forward. Her face is not one of shame, but one of triumph over adversity. We should praise her courage.

    Where I do agree with the initial comment is that the perpetrator should also be identified and available for pillory. And Broadsheet have risen once more to that.

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