Donegal Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Sinn Féin raise concerns with some sections of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006

Published: 2 June, 2006

Sinn Féin has raised concerns with some sections of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006 but has said they are facilitating the passage of this legislation to cover the gap in the law.


Speaking today Cllr Pearse Doherty said:


"The Dáil and Seanad are meeting today to fill a very serious legislative gap that has appeared - not because of a Supreme Court judgement but because successive governments since 1990 have failed to prepare for this eventuality. The victims of Mr. A, who has walked free, and of others who may yet walk free, have been devastated. Other victims are now living in fear."

However, Sinn Féin Cllr Pearse Doherty said he was disgusted that throughout this week the government were more concerned with the political fallout from this debacle rather than the victims of depraved sex offenders as they make their way back onto our streets.

Cllr Doherty continued:

"The claim by Tánaiste Mary Harney, that neither she nor the Minister for Justice Michael Michael McDowell knew about the Supreme Court challenge to the law, has no credibility whatsoever. If the law officers of the State were aware that a successful constitutional challenge could result in the release of some people convicted of sexual offences against children then the government had a duty to give political leadership. They had a duty to lead opinion and to change the law, or at the very least, prepare to change the law. They failed to do so.

"With regard to the passing of this legislation today, Sinn Féin have in common with the other Opposition parties facilitated the passage of this legislation to cover the gap in the law. We believe the law must be put right immediately to protect children under 15. Nevertheless, although we accept that it is not possible, in what is essentially an emergency Bill, to deal with the wider issues, we are very concerned that if this matter is not also dealt with, we will compound the current situation To that end my colleagues in the Dáil have pressed for the debate on these issues and the necessary wider public consultation to commence in the coming week. We should use the extra sitting next week for this purpose.


"Considerable research and work is required in relation to the broader issues of the age of consent and child protection, but that should not be used as an excuse for undue delay to protect vulnerable young people. There are obviously many issues to be thrashed out but we must have this debate at the earliest possible opportunity so we can prevent other sexual predators being released back into our communities."