Paedophile is jailed after ‘sex act near children’s party’

A CONVICTED sex offender has been jailed after he was allegedly caught committing a sex act near a children’s party a day after being released from court.

The Dublin man, who cannot be named by court order, has two previous convictions for sexual assault on juveniles and has since been ordered to stay away from children after he was allegedly caught touching himself as he watched children near a mosque and in a playground.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the man is an alcoholic and has scored high on a risk assessment test, which considered his alcohol problems as a contributory factor.

Earlier this month, Probation Service official told the court that the 67year-old continued to drink and that his drinking has caused management problems at the hostel he stays at.

He was released to appear again before the court but failed to show up for court on Wednesday last week and Judge Patricia Ryan issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

On Friday he appeared in court and Judge Ryan released him on continuing bail and ordered a letter from the hostel. Yesterday, the man again failed to show up to court and Grainne O’Neill BL, prosecuting, told the court that he had been arrested last Saturday for indecency.

She said he was caught touching himself near a children’s party in Dublin city centre. Judge Ryan issued another bench warrant but the man later presented himself to court.

Judge Ryan said while the man was entitled to the presumption of innocence on the most recent allegation, it was a pertinent matter for the court to consider and had a bearing on a decision of whether or not to re-activate the suspended sentence. Judge Ryan said the man has been in breach of the conditions of his release and activated the remainder of the suspended sentence.

The man will appear before Dublin District Court in September in relation to the allegations of indecency last weekend.