North Cork on high alert as double rapist is freed

North Cork is on high alert after a repeat rapist, who is widely expected to strike again, returned to his family after serving 11 years of a 17-year sentence for rape and sexual assault.

Patrick ‘Lo Lo’ O’Driscoll arrived in Fermoy at about lunchtime yesterday, having travelled in a prison van from the Midlands Prison. The 47-year-old met briefly with local gardaí.

Later in the afternoon, he went to the family home, Coome encampment, about two miles west of the village of Glenville.

It’s understood he gave this site as his permanent address for inclusion on the Sex Offenders Register.

If he changes address, he is obliged to notify gardaí within 24 hours.

Garda sources in north Cork have promised the local community that he will be closely monitored.

O’Driscoll was sentenced in 2003 for a brutal attack on a woman in Fermoy.

At the time of this attack, he was just months out of prison following sentencing for another rape in Co Kilkenny.

His latest victim and her mother admitted they are “living in fear” over the release of the man described by gardaí as one of Ireland’s most dangerous men.

O’Driscoll attacked the young woman just months after being released from prison for a separate rape sentence.

He had served nine years of a 12-year sentence — but re-offended within weeks of his release.

Under sex offenders legislation, O’Driscoll had to notify gardaí of his permanent address within seven days of his release.

Garda sources have described him as “a predator who is especially dangerous to women and has a very high likelihood of re-offending”.

O’Driscoll, who does not drink alcohol, is described by gardaí as “very much a loner”.