Sligo 32 CSM - Paedophile Laws Too Lenient

Sligo 32 County Sovereignty Movement express their dismay at the latest revelations in relation to serial paedophile Joseph McColgan and his activities.

This pathetic excuse of a human individual is a perfect example of the Free State’s laws failing the ordinary people of Ireland and, more importantly, the victims of these heinous crimes. Although on no comparable scale, the laws in place presently in relation to every aspect of the legal system are skewered to protect any of those in the position of power- the bank man, the developer, the priest, the abuser.
 

McColgan’s case history and the actions he carried out are nothing short of disgusting and the incapability of the accountable services to highlight and stop the abuse was neglect of the highest order in their supposed duty.

After years of systematically raping, beating and psychically abusing his children from his isolated den McColgan was given a 238 year sentence, he only served 9 years of this. This figure alone is a stark indication that there is something seriously wrong either with the legal system or those who administer it.
 
McColgan did not participate in any rehabilitation programs, show any remorse or seem to accept the wrong of his behaviour during his imprisonment in Ireland. On these actions alone his sentence should have been indefinite until an improvement or change was shown. Once released McColgan moved to England, and given recent news stories revealing his continuing involvement in child pornography and his ability to leave England without notifying the authorities with ease, who is to know if he continued his sick obsessions and actions over there on innocent individuals?
 
Sligo 32CSM are also alarmed at the fact that McColgan could so easily and callously return to the very location and area where he committed all of his crimes, this itself shows absolutely no level of remorse or comprehension of what pain he has left behind and is another clear marker to indicate that he should never be released to put the public of any country in danger again.

We would call on the system of Megans Law as exhibited in the United States to be implemented here with immediate effect. Parents and communities have the undeniable right to know if there is an individual in their community that may put them or their children in danger. Any argument for the right of anonymity to protect the abuser is farcical, that right evaporated as soon as their first crime was committed.

Sligo 32CSM also call on the rehabilitation system within jails to be closely looked at and made compulsory for abusers to become active in, if they refuse this their sentence should be made indefinite. Tags currently used to locate individuals on bail should also be made compulsory on offenders once released coupled with the introduction of a more regular signing on period of twice daily to ensure these evil paedophiles cannot so easily escape the net to try and ply their trade elsewhere as has been shown in McColgan’s case.

These individuals have been and always will be a danger to society with their sick and perverted intentions. The safety of the public is paramount and all measures should be put in place to ensure that men like McColgan are never released to prey again.

Sligo 32CSM call for this system, which lets these offenders ruin so many lives after serving shamefully short sentences, to be reviewed and changed with immediate effect. We stand with residents of communities to have the right to self determination to expel dangers that may lie in their area by introducing a Megan’s Law system to ensure our children's safety and to minimise the risk from paedophiles and rapists.
 
This safety of the innocent and vulnerable in our society is an issue we feel particularly strongly on and will continue to highlight to ensure enhanced protection for the future for the people of this island.