RCNI Press Release - 9 August 2010

Fiona Neary, RCNI Director said, ‘people who are concerned at the release of Larry Murphy should support and cooperate with the local Gardaí to help them safeguard the community. Gardaí will be monitoring Larry Murphy’s movements and activities upon his release.

‘Public anxiety at Larry Murphy’s release is understandable given his record and the additional crimes in which he is a suspect. He is still considered a high risk to society. His release again focuses our attention on the State’s capacity to respond adequately to the communities’ safety in circumstances like these.

‘The Garda capacity to monitor high risk offenders in the community and protect society is limited by the terms of the sentence, the capacity and skills of probation services and Garda resources. Knowing where a sex offender lives greatly assists Gardaí in their role. When offenders are driven out of one area, or into homelessness, it is harder to protect communities. There are a number of different agencies that need to work closely together to monitor him as closely as is possible. Community cooperation with the Gardaí is a very important resource in this effort and one in which we all have a role to play.

‘This case clearly highlights the failures of our legal system when it comes to repeat or high risk offenders. We call on our legal system to make it the norm that serious offender sentences have Pre-Release Risk Assessment built in. Not all sex offenders are the same. Pre-release risk assessment means that sex offenders can be individually assessed for Reduction Of Harm. Reliable risk assessment can then inform what actions should be taken. In many cases, community based on-going supervision and treatment will be priorities. In cases like this, of a high risk likely repeat offender the option of remaining in custody until there is a demonstration of reduction in harm should be available to the authorities.

‘It is also important to remain aware that protecting communities means being able to share information about those known to be a risk to the community but who do not have a conviction. For various reasons, many sex offenders living in the community will not have a conviction. Vetting and legal provision for soft information is critical in these instances. The government and all political parties have recognised this gap in our laws to protect society. Yet this government have delayed publishing the bills of this legislation which they have assured us have been in draft format since September 2008. The RCNI call for urgent action and an end to this delay.’
Notes:

• The RCNI is the national Rape Crisis representative body, which provides a voice for survivors and is a catalyst for social change towards a society free from abuse.