Proposed legislation to track the movements sex offenders is “a step in the right direction” for Dublin communities.
That's according to Independent Councillor Deirdre Donnelly, who welcomed the legislation restricting sex offenders following the recent announcement of a new Bill by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee.
The Stillorgan councillor said: ““There is much too much emphasis on the accused and their rights whereas the victim cannot even avail of legal advice or representation.
“This has to change. Meanwhile the implementation of the proposed legislation will, I believe, help in some way to make our communities safer for all.”
The Sex Offenders Amendment Bill 2021 provides for electronic tagging and for a prohibition on convicted sex offenders engaging in certain forms of employment.
The Bill will provide an explicit power for prohibition after bans on working with children or vulnerable people were made by the Courts in the past.
Cllr Donnelly was quite vocal a few years ago when it emerged that a serial offender had been released from prison and was living in the area she represented.
She said: “This caused a huge amount of upset in the community at the time.
“I did attempt to highlight this at a public meeting and at subsequent joint policing meetings where I was a member of the committee.
“I was informed however that the individual in question was entitled to privacy. I was quite taken aback at the lack of willingness amongst some of our public representatives at that time to address the issue.”
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