Scottish paedophile arrested in Dublin after website tip-off

AN on-the-run Scottish paedophile was arrested in Dublin city centre yesterday.

Fraser Benjamin McLaughlin, of Hamilton in South Lanarkshire, was detained after a member of the public tipped off gardaí.

The child sex offender was spotted after someone recognised him from a mugshot on an online most-wanted list.

The 57-year-old’s details were posted on the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) website last Friday. McLaughlin was last seen boarding a ferry for the North earlier this year and had been on the run for several months.

Jim Gamble, CEOP chief executive, said: “Once again we prove that the public are willing and able to help locate convicted missing child sex offenders.

“If McLaughlin thought he could hide then he is tonight learning a lesson.

“My message to other convicted offenders who think they can also go missing is to look at this story and give themselves up as they too may find their details posted on our site.”

McLaughlin could face up to five years in jail for disappearing and failing to notify authorities of his whereabouts. He was required to keep police up-to-date with his movements under the Sexual Offenders Register notification requirements.

He is also wanted for failing to answer bail over child abuse image offences.

Detective Inspector David Tassie of Strathclyde Police said: “I am delighted that we now have a result.”

McLaughlin is the 19th sex offender to be arrested after details were posted on CEOP since the site was launched in 2006. So far, details of 21 criminals have been published.

In June, child abuser William Paden, who police warned posed a significant risk, was detained in Ballyhaise, Co Cavan, after a resident recognised him from Garda alerts.

McLaughlin later appeared briefly in court and was remanded in custody for one week.