Tougher penalties for sex offenders

Justice Minister, John O'Donoghue, has announced he is increasing the penalties faced by sex offenders.

Under the current law, the maximum sentence is five years in jail.

According to the Justice Minister, his decision to toughen the penalty was largely to do with the case of Sorcha McKenna.

Sorcha was outraged when her father Vincent was only given three years in jail despite a litany of abuse against her.

As a result of her petition, Mr O'Donoghue is increasing the maximum sentence for sex assault against an adult to ten years in prison and against a child to a maximum of 14 years.

Also in the bill, if a court is to impose a suspended sentence at the end of a detention period, the sex offender can be supervised when they leave prison.

Mr O'Donoghue said he hoped the bill would be law by summertime.

Among other changes, a fine of £1500 or twelve months in jail if a sex offender fails to put his name onto a register of sex offenders.