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David Walsh Breaks Silence Over Giving Character Reference For Tom Humphries

David Walsh Breaks Silence Over Giving Character Reference For Tom Humphries
PJ Browne
By PJ Browne
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Sunday Time journalist David Walsh has explained why he gave a character reference for Tom Humphries.

Humphries, a former Irish Times sportswriter, will be sentenced later this month after this week pleading guilty to several counts in relation to the sexual abuse of a young girl.

Walsh is quoted in today's Sunday Times saying that he 'could not abandon' someone who had been a friend for 30 years.

The young girl whose trust Tom betrayed has suffered terribly from this crime. I wrote a personal character reference for Tom because we have been friends for 30 years and, despite the serious wrong he had done, I could not abandon him.

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The Irish Independent's Shane Phelan reported during the week that Walsh's testimonial letter had referred to Humphries as 'hugely regarded' and 'hugely respected'.

It was also said that a second character reference, written by a 'well-known former inter-county hurler', had also been handed to the judge.

Five years ago, in his book 'Seven Deadly Sins: My Pursuit of Lance Armstrong', Walsh had referred to Humphries as 'the most talented sportswriter I've ever read. A fine man, too.'

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The book was published in December 2012, 20 months after allegations regarding Humphries had been made public by the Sunday World.

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