Government accused of putting children at risk

THE Dáil chamber erupted in fury yesterday as the release of ‘Mr A’ caused opposition leaders to warn that Government “incompetence” had put children at risk.

Heated exchanges saw Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny express outrage at the freeing of “a pervert” who gave a 12-year-old girl alcohol before having sex with her.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern pledged to cancel next week’s Dáil recess to push through emergency legislation to plug the legal loophole caused by the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down laws on statutory rape as unconstitutional.

Mr Kenny claimed children would be at risk this weekend due to “scandalous” complacency by ministers.

“The fact that a person who deliberately plied a young girl of Confirmation age with alcohol and then had sex with her has now been released back into society at a time when this Government failed to see such a scenario coming down the tracks is an appalling example of complete incompetence in respect of protecting our young people,” he told TDs

“Thanks to the Taoiseach’s breathtaking incompetence, Mr A has walked free and so might Mssrs B, C, D, E and F.

“We should think of Mr B — a pervert who serves four life sentences for having sex with girls aged six, eight and 10 years. The court described his case as one of the worst to come before it and described the defendant as manipulative, depraved and cunning,” he said.

“This depraved individual can now return to society where the same thing could happen again this weekend.”

Mr Kenny ridiculed Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s claim last week that there was no “gaping void” in the judicial system due to the Supreme Court’s ruling.

“He should tell that to the thousands of parents who have children of confirmation age, one of whom was plied with alcohol and raped by an individual who can now walk free,” he said.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern insisted the Government had been working round the clock since the ruling to deal with the situation.

“No legislation will plug the cases of Mr A, B, C, D, E, F or G. The Supreme Court has given its judgement on that,” he said.

Mr Ahern said other existing laws currently protected children and that new legislation needed to be watertight.

“We will try to have it before the weekend, and if we have it, the Cabinet Committee will meet over the weekend and we will deal with it next week,” Mr Ahern pledged.

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte accused Mr McDowell of a “dereliction of duty” for not preparing for the possibility of the Supreme Court striking down the statutory rape laws.

“What has happened here is that a lot of children will be prone to predators and that is a fact.

“What is more important than the protection of our children?” he asked.