The Labour Party has said it is open to introducing guidelines on the circumstances in which its elected representatives can write letters on behalf of those facing criminal charges.
This follows an apology by Cork North Central TD Kathleen Lynch after she wrote a letter on behalf of the family of a man jailed for 13 years for raping two teenage girls, both sisters of his then girlfriend.
The letter from the TD was presented to Judge Patrick McCarthy by defence counsel last Friday during the sentencing of Trevor Casey (31), of Closes Road, Fairhill, Cork city.
Both victims, who were aged 14 and 16 at the time of the attacks, gave evidence that he raped them after they woke up to find him in their beds.
Ms Lynch apologised for writing the letter and today said new guidelines would be introduced in the Labour Party.
"I do now believe that there should be guidelines laid down and I have already been in contact with [Labour Party leader] Eamon Gilmore and we have agreed that that will happen within the Labour party," she told RTÉ radio's News at One.
She added that it was "not just politicians" involved. "I’m not trying to spread the blame but you know judges do ask if there is any relevant background information that they need," she said.
One of Trevor Casey's victims told 96FM's The Opinion Line today that she rejected Ms Lynch's apology and said she should resign.
"Does she not realise the effect that (the letter) would have on us the victims? Writing a letter to support a convicted monster. She wrote the letter for the parents. What about the parents of my family? What about the effect on my family? What about the parents of the victims?
" I don't accept her apology. I don't agree with a politician supporting a convicted rapist. We wanted Friday to be done and over. For a politician to get involved — it is a disgrace. It is hard to move on and get over it when you have politicians supporting it.," she told 96FM.
The Labour Party said it noted a suggestion by Minister for the Environment John Gormley that there should now be a code of conduct agreed by all parties to cover requests of this nature.
“Labour would certainly be open to this suggestion,” a spokeswoman for the party said.
Mr Gilmore said on Sunday he would write this week to all Labour Party TDs and senators advising them to exercise "discretion and extreme caution in regard to requests to provide character evidence in connection with any court case", the party said. That letter is still being drafted.
Rape counselling services called for an end to such lobbying by politicians.
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) chief executive Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop said the TD’s letter was “unacceptable in a climate where we are endeavouring to foster transparency and encourage the victims of rape and sexual assault to come forward and report these heinous crimes”.
The DRCC also asked all political parties to “put aside party politics” and support Fine Gael’s new Bill on Victims’ Rights.
Fiona Neary, executive director of the Rape Crisis Network of Ireland (RCNI), said Ms Lynch's apology was insufficient and that her action would be “deeply distressing” to victims of convicted sex offenders.
“Unfortunately, these inappropriate actions are not exceptional to Kathleen Lynch, there are other elected representatives who have undertaken similar activities in other court cases involving convicted sex offenders," Ms Neary said.