Jim Glennon confirms character reference for Daniel Ramamoorthy
jim glennon has confirmed that he was the former TD who submitted a character reference for convicted child sex offender Daniel Ramamoorthy. issued on Sunday morning, the former Fianna Fáil TD said his decision was an error of judgement and that he was deeply sorry for the harm caused. He also said he will resign from any employment, consultancies, and directorships he currently holds.
Jim Glennon says he was “naive and wrong”
The statement came after a week of speculation over the identity of the politician referenced in court. Jim Glennon, who played rugby for Ireland and served as a TD in Dublin North from 2002 to 2007, said he had failed to give proper weight to the seriousness of Ramamoorthy’s crimes, the trauma suffered by the victim and family, and the courage it takes to report abuse.
He said the crimes were “vile and of the most egregious nature” and offered an unreserved apology to the victim and their family. Jim Glennon added that he would write to the family through the Courts Service to express his apologies directly.
Court ruling placed renewed attention on the reference
The disclosure follows a ruling by Judge John Edwards, who last week dismissed a sentence appeal by Ramamoorthy and rejected a bid by the media to name the politician who had provided the character reference. After that decision, the judge clarified that the politician was a former TD and no longer a sitting member of the Dáil.
Ramamoorthy was convicted in 2017 of sexually exploiting a 13-year-old boy after asking him to send a sexually explicit image over Snapchat. He first met the child while volunteering at a Christian children’s camp, and he is also awaiting trial on further charges involving child sexual abuse material.
Jim Glennon’s public roles came under focus
Jim Glennon has also been identified as the non-executive chairman of a major communications firm. He served in that role since 2008 and was previously described as providing public affairs advice drawing on his political and policy experience. His background also includes rugby, with service as a former international player as well as selector, coach, and manager for Leinster Rugby.
In his statement, Jim Glennon said he accepted the consequences of his actions and would step back from the positions he currently holds. The case has widened beyond the original appeal, placing the character reference at the center of a broader reckoning over how public figures respond when asked to support someone later convicted of grave sexual offences. For now, the focus remains on Jim Glennon’s apology, the victim’s family, and the next steps after the court’s ruling.
