"Sick, twisted and demented"

THE sick history of Ian Huntley preying on children was revealed yesterday as he began a life sentence for the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

British Home Secretary David Blunkett announced an independent inquiry into how Huntley was able to get a job as a school caretaker despite seven previous allegations of him sexually assaulting schoolgirls and two adults.

The case revealed frightening deficiencies in the system for vetting people who work with children. The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children last night warned that our vetting systems are grossly inadequate compared to the procedures in Britain and Northern Ireland.