A 26-year-old man, who was convicted of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old schoolgirl in south Co Donegal, has been given a three-year sentence.

THE Garda and the Probation Service have almost completed a risk assessment of 1,100 sex offenders as part of a strategy to protect young people.

Criminal hearings may experience delays because of staff shortages at the Probation and Welfare Service, it was revealed today.

The Junior Minister with responsibility for drugs has strongly criticised the manner in which Harristown House addiction centre in Co Roscommon is being closed.

The IMPACT trade union has severely criticised the impending closure of the Harristown House residential treatment centre in Co Roscommon.

VICTIMS of paedophile swimming coach Derry O’Rourke were left in anger and despair yesterday as their abuser walked free from jail with no obligation to notify gardaí of his whereabouts for the next seven days.

A teenage boy who has committed a series of sexual offences has been jailed for five years for sexually assaulting a 14 year-old girl.

A former priest was today charged with indecently assaulting two boys at a health centre in north Co Dublin.

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell has said he is concerned at the low number of convicted sex offenders willing to take part in an intensive prison rehabilitation programme.

PROBATION and garda representatives yesterday welcomed significant increases in budgets for young offenders.

ALMOST 8,000 calls made to the Women’s Aid helpline went unanswered in 2004 due to a lack of staff, it was revealed yesterday.

A FUND to help victims of crime has been recommended by a Law Reform Commission (LRC) report. The new financial reparation fund would replace the poor box system now in use.

Sexual offending is “a very serious problem”, Minister for Children Brian Lenihan tells the NOTA conference. Caroline O’Doherty reports.

The Government’s approach to the prison system is misguided and uninformed, it was claimed today.

Large numbers of inmates in Irish prisons reportedly have a history of homelessness, drug addiction and psychological problems.

THE gardaí and the PSNI are to intensify efforts in targeting criminal assets, including those of the IRA, Justice Minister Michael McDowell said yesterday.

A JUDGE yesterday held a family responsible for their 14-year-old daughter, who has left two elderly women traumatised after she violently burgled their homes.

PRIVATE prisons should be tried as an experiment to see if commercial companies could handle inmates more cheaply and efficiently than the Irish Prison Service, according to the Inspector of Prisons.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is overspending on public property deals on a systematic basis, it was claimed today.

Three prisoners who were on temporary day release robbed a businessman at knifepoint in Dublin, it emerged tonight.

A scathing report into the Irish prison system was finally released tonight after being delayed by the Department of Justice for one year.

A TRIAL scheme to divert young offenders away from crime and drugs should be extended and properly funded, according to a report published today.

Gardaí will be joining homeless people and probation and prison service teams to compete in a Homeless Street League football tournament, it emerged today.

A new specialist commission is to be set up to support victims of crime, it emerged tonight.

Gardaí in Co Meath are investigating a suspected arson attack on the offices of the Probation and Welfare Service in Navan last night.

A SYSTEM aimed at assessing the threat of offenders could reduce the number sent to jail, the head of the Probation and Welfare Service (PWS) said yesterday.

IRELAND is facing a "cocaine epidemic" and the Government urgently needs to fund prevention and treatment, probation officers said yesterday.

UP to 1,000 offenders who should be doing community service are in prison because the Probation and Welfare service is under resourced, a TD claimed yesterday.

THERE has been no significant increase in non-custodial sentences in recent years despite the recommendations of an expert group, according to the State’s financial watchdog.

A past President of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has died at his home aged 65 years.

PROBATION and welfare officers, already struggling to cope, are to have their budget cut by a further 8% next year, the Oireachtas heard yesterday.

The Government's Linkage initiative has placed 792 ex-offenders in jobs, education or training since it was established three years ago, according to the group's latest annual report.

THE new pilot scheme for victims of domestic violence will cater for men and women, the Department of Justice insisted yesterday.

PLANS to extend the drug court system nationwide have been put on hold because Government officials believe it has not been successful.

WOMEN are at greater risk of violence in the home in the wake of the recent Supreme Court ruling that interim barring orders, keeping violent spouses out of the house, are unconstitutional.