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.