Putting child safety before sex offenders’ rights

A disturbing newspaper article was recently circulated on social media, reporting that 12 paedophiles who had been released from prison were now living in my community and in three nearby towns. Four of these individuals were considered at “high-risk” of reoffending by gardaí.
 
A closer look at the report showed that it dated back to November 2012. But its re-emergence last week still had a chilling effect on local parents. This type of story changes you. You become wary of every random stranger; you eye slow-moving cars and vans with suspicion. Your kids can't understand why they're suddenly not allowed out on the green unsupervised to kick a ball or call around to their best friend's house. 
 
How do you explain to them that it was ok to do it yesterday but not today? Sometimes the 'don't talk to strangers' chat isn't enough when there are sexual predators at large.

This week the issue of sentencing for sex offenders was in the news when a man was given four years in prison for sexually assaulting two teenage girls on the Luas. Controversially, the judge decided to suspend the final two years of the term with conditions attached. 

•A man was sentenced last week for sexually assaulting two teenagers on board a Luas tram. FILE PHOTO

Over the years there has been much criticism of how the courts have sometimes dealt with convicted sex offenders. Judges may well have the legal scope to hand down suspended or short prison sentences but when they do it can create a perception of leniency in the public mind. 

All crimes of a sexual nature – be they carried out against children or adults – should be dealt with severely and consistently by the courts. Attending treatment programmes should be a mandatory condition attached to all early releases for convicted offenders. 

That said, if I had my way there would be zero remission granted to sexual predators who target children. Putting them on a sex offenders' register is not enough. I believe they should be electronically tagged for a substantial period of time after their release and that residents living in close proximity to convicted paedophiles are entitled to know exactly where high-risk offenders are located. Gardaí could help ensure that mob rule does not prevail.

I've no doubt that the more liberal-minded in society would take issue with my approach. But in my personal opinion, breaching the human rights of sexual predators would be a small price to pay for the protection of our children.