Irish Times not using pronouns for sex offender

[junipery]

https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2026/02/20/sex-offender-who-assaulted-vulnerable-young-man-jailed-for-five-years/

I saw this pointed out by Paddy O’Gorman on X. And interesting to note that his barrister describes him as biologically male. Tiny crumbs I know.

You're right tiny cracks, but I'm going to be crabby and ask was it because the victim was male, if the victim had been female, would they have used the attackers correct pronouns. That's where I'm at now with the press, expect a double standard until proven wrong. 😤

My sympathy is with the victim of the crime, male or female a sexual assault is a horrible thing to experience.

I liked the clarity of the following, with no claim the assailant was actually woman as a result:

Le Vert said Otto was biologically male but had augmented breasts and was taking hormones

I can't read the article but that is some light at the end of the tunnel, especially coming from the Irish Times who usually wrap themselves up in knots talking about 'her frozen sperm' (from a previous article) for example.

biologically male but had augmented breasts and was taking hormones

That is the perfect description of men who claim they have 'changed sex'.

I agree it's a small step, though possibly as Theywont says, there are different reactions depending on the sex of the victim.

I've noticed that the UK media refers to Epstein as a 'paedophile'; the Irish media refer to him as a 'convicted sex offender'.
I wonder if he had abused boys as young as 11 would they call him a paedophile instead?

I share Theywont's sympathy for all victims of abuse, male or female.

Otto doesn’t have a gender recognition certificate so there is no legal basis to place him in a women’s prison. This was made clear in his sentencing last year for a previous assault. He was referred to as ‘he’ throughout that case in court and newspapers(mostly).
In 2020 the Irish Times court report for another of Otto’s offences refers to him as a woman throughout. So yes, there’s been a shift but undoubtedly if he had a certificate it would be all she/her and the women’s prison.