Sex offenders reject rehabilitation

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.

He said the number of inmates enrolling in the Sex Offender Programme had fallen in recent years.

Supplying new figures, Mr McDowell said, as of January 30, 2006, there were 253 prisoners serving sentences for sexual offences. “The number of suitably motivated offenders applying for participation of the Sex Offenders Programme has declined in recent years and this is a matter of concern,” he said.