'I don't hate Danny, I hate what he did to me'
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IN a remarkable act of humanity, Danny Foley's victim has said that she never hated him at any stage and even understands the public support that is out there for him since his conviction.
The young mother-of-one said that although she felt suicidal at times after what happened to her, she did not hate the man convicted of sexually assaulting her, but did hate what he did to her.
"I considered him to be a friend. I do not hate him as a person but I do hate what he did to me and what I had to go through," she said in court on the day of his sentencing.
Reiterating these sentiments at a press conference on Saturday, the victim said that although she has been badly hurt by what he did to her, she does not hate him.
"I never hated Danny but I am hurt. I will never forgive him for what he has done to me, but I can never hate him."
In an emotional interview, the 24-year-old said also that she bears no ill will towards the Foley family and understands the hardship they are going through.
"I don't have any bad feelings towards the Foley family. I can imagine how bad they are feeling and how hard this is for them" she said. "I would like to say to his family that I didn't want this to go so public and that I know they're going through an awful time at the moment, but all I did was tell the truth and I'm not going to feel guilty and I'm not going to feel ashamed."
Asked by The Kerryman why she thought so many people in Listowel were standing by the man convicted of sexually assaulting her, the young mother said that she also knew the Danny Foley that they know and continue to defend.
"I knew Danny for nine years and to me he was the person everyone thought he was. I trusted him and felt comfortable with him. To turn around and do that... I don't think I'll ever feel safe again," she said.
The victim added that Danny Foley is a popular man, who is well known and highly respected by a lot of people in town, while she is a quiet woman who rarely socialises.
"If they want to believe he's innocent that's fine. They weren't there [on the night of the attack] and didn't see me after."
She said that she needed to do the press conference to get her side of the story across, adding that if she would endure the court case and its fallout all over again if she had to.
On the five year jail term imposed on Foley, the victim said that while he has lost five years of his life, he has taken the rest of her life away, and for that she can never forgive him for that.
- MARISA REIDY mreidy@kerryman.ie
