Wednesday, November 20, 2013
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‘Justice’ for tragic sex attack woman
Pretty in a pink tulle tutu
Zoe Ashe Browne, Jane Magan and Emma Lister from Ballet Ireland warm up backstage yesterday at The Gaiety Theatre before this evening’s opening of The Nutcracker. The RTÉ Concert Orchestra provide the music for the production of the story of Clara, her Nutcracker Prince and the Sugar Plum Fairy, which runs until Saturday PICTURE: PA
THE sister of a sex assault victim by conor gallagher who took her own life said yesterday justice had been done after her Defence counsel said Thackaberry attacker was jailed for five years. has a very low IQ, worked as a staThe Central Criminal Court heard ble hand after school and was Michelle Hennessy had been bullied involved in boxing, but later began and intimidated in connection with drinking, using drugs and associatthe attack before she took her life in ing with ‘inappropriate’ people. October last year. Thackaberry was originally charged Sean Thackaberry, 20, of Mary- with rape but pleaded guilty to agville, Melita Road, Kildare Town, gravated sexual assault over the atwas walking Ms Hennessy, then 26, tack that was described as being at home after she had a night out with the ‘upper end of the scale’. friends in Kildare when he threw Justice Barry White sentenced him her over a wall and subjected her to to seven-and-a-half years in jail with an aggravated sexual assault. the final two-and-a-half suspended Passing gardaí heard her screams and registered him as a sex offender. and chased Thackaberry down. Outside court, Ms Hennessy’s The Director of Public family smiled through their Prosecutions was able to tears. prosecute Thackaberry in Her sister Sharon said: the absence of evidence ‘Today, Michelle finally from the dead woman, usgot her justice, it’s just a ing his confession, DNA shame she is not here to see evidence and medical it herself. reports of Ms Hennessy’s ‘She can now rest in injuries. peace knowing justice has A victim impact report on been done for her.’ behalf of Ms Hennessy Bullied: Michelle In the year after her sisstated she was terrified of ter’s death, Sharon decidgoing out after the attack. ed to honour her memory and help She also reported experiencing others by organising a fundraiser bullying and intimidation from peo- consisting of a 33-person parachute ple in the town in the month before jump in Kildare. she took her life in October 2012. Hundreds more attended a benefit The court heard that before the at- night in Michelle’s honour. tack on January 30, 2011, she was a In total Sharon and her family bright and bubbly woman who loved raised more than €30,000 for suicide to travel and skydive. prevention.
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