ISPCC calls for arrest of missing sex offender

THE ISPCC last night called for the speedy arrest of a man charged with sex offences who jumped bail while enjoying the benefits of anonymity.

The man, known only as “Mr G”, was one of the people at the centre of last year’s statutory rape controversy.

Yesterday, Judge Katherine Delahunt issued a bench warrant for his arrest but did not lift restrictions preventing his identity being published.

“Mr G” stood accused of unlawful carnal knowledge until last year when the Supreme Court ruled parts of this law were unconstitutional.

He is due to stand trial on new charges in January and had been released on bail.

Child protection legislation means his identity cannot be released for fear it would endanger the welfare of his underage accuser.

The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday heard “Mr G” has not been living at his bail address since the middle of June.

And, for the past number of weeks, he failed to sign on at a Garda station which is also a requirement of his bail conditions.

Justin McQuade, defending, said he had not received instructions from the man and his client did not appear in court yesterday.

Judge Delahunt decided against lifting reporting restrictions which could help gardaí to recapture him.

Assistant director of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Caroline O’Sullivan said it was important the public was told if the man is considered a danger to children.

“The reality is that where there is any risk to children there should be a risk assessment carried out before his bail conditions are reached, but this does not happen and it something we are looking for,” she said.

Last summer the decision of the Supreme Court, that Ireland’s statutory rape legislation was unconstitutional, provoked unprecedented controversy. It said the law did not allow an accused person to argue they had made an innocent mistake regarding a person’s age.

The law has since been changed and the ruling did not lead to the acquittal of people convicted under the legislation. Charges were dropped against six people, including “Mr G”.