Old School Comic Sil Fox Cleared of Sexual Assault

0
1245
Sil Fox

One of Dublin’s great survivors of the entertainment scene Sil Fox, the veteran comedian has been acquitted of sexual assault today after a trial at Dublin District court.

A woman had claimed that the 87-year-old liveline ‘funny man’ contributor groped her while having a selfie taken in a south city pub in 2018.

Judge Paula Murphy ruled that there was insufficient evidence against him having outlined inconsistencies between the woman’s evidence and CCTV footage that had been shown.

The 87-year-old with an address at Wellington Lawn in Templeogue pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting the woman on December 17th, 2018.

The complainant alleged Mr Fox assaulted her after agreeing to her request for a selfie while she wss out on a Christmas night out with friends.

The judge said the woman had given evidence that Mr Fox had touched her with his left hand and that the alleged assault had lasted around 30 seconds.

Judge Murphy said the complainant had accepted on viewing the CCTV that Mr Fox’s hand was on the table for the entire time the photograph was taken.

His hand was not visible for only three seconds after the photo was taken, the judge said. The woman was “unable to explain” this inconsistency.

Mr Fox who was excused attendance inside the court, turned up today outside the court and spoke on the steps of the Criminal Courts of Justice shortly afterwards.

“I am delighted that I have been completely exonerated of all charges by the court today.”

“This case should never have been taken. Nothing untoward or inappropriate ever happened as the CCTV coverage made crystal clear. I was asked to participate in a photo, which I did, and I walked away five seconds later.”

“I strongly believe that the DPP has some serious questions to answer as to why they took this case.

“I have been through months of hell ever since this case was first publicised. My health, physically and mentally, has deteriorated and I have endured countless nights with little or no sleep. At 87 years of age I found it very difficult to cope with all this stress.”

“I have been in show business for 60 years without a blemish until this accusation surfaced. It has unfairly tarnished my reputation and good name. In the space of 48 hours after it hit the news last July, every show or concert I was booked for was cancelled. I have not worked a day since. I am glad it is finally over and I have been found completely innocent. I hope my reputation will be restored in time. I am looking forward to getting back to work. I love the stage and I love entertaining people.”

Mr Fox thanked his wife, son, nieces, nephews, Mr French and barrister Emer Ni Chuagain “and all my friends in show business and elsewhere who supported me throughout this ordeal.”

Sil Fox released a statement:

I would like to say that I am delighted that I have been completely exonerated of all charges by the court today. This case should never have been taken. Nothing untoward or inappropriate ever happened. As the CCTV footage make crystal clear I was asked to participate in the selfie photo which I did and I walked away five second later, and I strongly believe the DPP has some serious questions to answer as to why they took this case.

I also find it strange that my name as a defendant was published but the accuser’s name was not, I don’t know why they do that. I’ve been through months of hell ever since this case was first publicised. My health, physically and mentally, has deteriorated and I have endured countless nights with little or no sleep.

At 87-years-of age, I found it very difficult to cope with all this stress. I have been in show business for 60 years without a blemish until this accusation surfaced. It has unfairly tarnished my reputation, good name and in the space of 48 hours after hitting the news, every show or concert or charity show I was booked on was cancelled. I have not worked a day since.

I am glad it is finally over and I have been found completely innocent. I hope my reputation will be restored in time and I’m looking forward to getting back to work. I love the stage and I love entertaining people.