The Indo Daily: Sil Fox – The pub selfie that ‘ruined’ the 90-year-old comedian’s life and why he’s now suing the DPP

90-year-old comedian Sil Fox takes case against DPP after dismissed sexual assault charge

Beloved for his sharp sense of humour and seemingly endless energy, veteran Irish comedian Sylvester ‘Sil’ Fox has been making crowds laugh for decades. But things took a decidedly more serious turn for the entertainer in December 2018 when he was accused of sexual assault by a woman who had her picture taken with him.

The accusation led to him being questioned by detectives. He vehemently denied the allegation and, together with his lawyers, protested that the CCTV footage of the interaction with the woman in a Dublin pub clearly showed he had not touched the alleged victim. Gardaí sent a file on the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Despite no evidence to corroborate the allegation, a decision was made to charge Fox with sexual assault. Things took another bad turn for him at a preliminary hearing in the District Court when a judge turned down an application by Fox’s lawyers seeking an order preventing him from being named in media reports.

Fox maintained his innocence and was later cleared of all wrongdoing after a trial, but the case still haunts him today as he prepares to turn 91.

Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Paul Williams, special correspondent with the Irish Independent, to discuss Fox’s race against time in taking on Ireland’s justice system.