A Kerry priest is defending his decision to join a group of people in shaking the hand of a convicted sex offender before he was sentenced yesterday.

Fr. Sean Sheehy provided a character reference during the court proceedings for 35 year old Danny Foley.

The nightclub bouncer from Meen in Listowel was due to be sentenced for sexually assaulting a woman at a carpark in the town, having been convicted 2 weeks ago.

A group of up to fifty people shook his hand, with some embracing him, before the Judge entered the courtroom yesterday.

Fr Sheehy’s been defending his actions to Breakfast here on Newstalk.

“I was actually sitting down when his mother came and asked if I would go up and tell him hello, and I did” he said.

When Fr. Sheehy went on to call him the alleged attacker, he was reminded that the man has been found guilty under the law.

“I didn’t know her – if I had known her I certainly would have shook her hand as well” he replied.

Meanwhile, Director of the Rape Crisis Centre in Kerry Vera O’ Leary has told Breakfast here on Newstalk that what happened in court, was devastating for the victim in this case.

“To have to sit there – knowing what she went through, knowing that she did tell the truth – and it took a huge amount of courage…for her to come forward and to report” she said.

“And for then to see people actually from the locality, actually going up and shaking his hand” she added.