Councillor who gave reference for soldier jailed for rape reinstated

Brian Tierney says he was misled before giving a character reference for an Irish soldier who was jailed for rape

The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) has reinstated a councillor who provided a court reference for an Irish soldier jailed for rape.

Brian Tierney, who sits on Derry City and Strabane District Council, was suspended by the SDLP and lost the party whip after details of the reference emerged earlier this year.

He apologised and withdrew the reference for Kielan Mooney from Londonderry who was jailed for eight and half years for raping a woman who was also in the Irish army.

Following his suspension, the SDLP launched an investigation which has now concluded with the reinstatement of Tierney.

Kielan Mooney was found guilty of three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault

A party spokesperson said the SDLP believes in the "legitimacy of remorse and restitution" and that is why it has taken the decision to reinstate Tierney's membership.

"We acknowledge the deep hurt caused by the issuing of a character reference for Kielan Mooney and we further acknowledge councillor Tierney was misled about the nature of the offence, that his apology and engagement with affected parties were fulsome and that they have been accepted by the victim at the centre of the case," the spokesperson added.

"Character references in the legal system have worked against victims and survivors of sexual violence and the SDLP are actively working for them to be prohibited in cases of this nature."

The party has now directed its elected representatives to avoid providing character references where allegations of violence or sexual crimes are involved.

It has also introduced mandatory training for all its politicians around the barriers women face in the justice system.

In January Mooney's family said Tierney had been "misled" into providing the reference, as he was not aware of the "seriousness" of the charges.

Tierney later withdrew the reference and said sorry to Mooney's victim.

In February, the woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, told BBC Radio Foyle she accepted Tierney's apology.