Gardaí knew sex offender was on way to Brazil

BRAZIL’S ambassador to Ireland yesterday claimed the Government and gardaí were aware of a plan to repatriate a Brazilian prior to his appearance at the inquest of a 14-year-old Irish girl he had raped.

A storm of controversy erupted at the inquest on Wednesday into the death of Jamie Maughan when it emerged the Brazilian Embassy had assisted Weldo Froitas Cavalcante return home last month after his release from Cloverhill Prison, where he had served a term for statutory rape. Cavalcante had been issued with a summons to attend the inquest. Jamie’s body was found behind a derelict house at Harmony Heights in Cavan Town on July 2, 2004, seven days after she was last seen alive.

Cavalcante, in his 20s, was her boyfriend at the time and Jamie had died in his house. A friend of Cavalcante gave evidence at the inquest that he had admitted to dumping her body. Cavalcante was only charged with statutory rape.