Justice Establishment should hang their heads in shame

The Sensible Sentencing Trust says the victims of a serial sex-offender could have been spared their ordeal if an On-Line Offender Register was in operation.

The 89-year old Wellington man, one of the oldest men to be sentenced for historic sexual abuse, pleaded guilty to 42 charges of indecencies to boys and girls, attempted rape, and unlawful sexual connection.

During sentencing, Judge John Butler said the man had previous convictions for obscene exposure and attempted indecent assault dating back to the 1950s.

Spokesman, Garth McVicar said the Justice Establishment should hang their heads in shame over a decision that has sent shockwaves through the general public.

“How many more children must be abused before politicians show some courage and introduce an On-Line Sex-Offender Register to protect the public from offenders like this?” McVicar says. “This predator, hiding in a man’s clothing, has been able to prey on innocent children for a period spanning 50 odd years!”

McVicar also is furious over the protection of sex-offenders. “It appears that our Justice Establishment is hell-bent on protecting sex-offenders rather than protecting our women and children from them.”

The Sensible Sentencing Trust is currently facing legal action from the Director of Human Rights who alleges the Trust breached a convicted pedophile’s privacy by naming him on the Trusts sex-offender register. The offender alleges he has name suppression but extensive inquiries by the Privacy Commissioner and the Director of Human Rights has failed to produce any evidence that any such suppression order exists.

The Trust is vowing to use the case as an example of the need for an official On-Line Register. The case is due to be heard in Court in August.

Mr McVicar said many countries make public safety the paramount consideration by having a publicly available on line register. “Here in New Zealand our Courts and Govt Departments go to extraordinary lengths to ensure the offenders are protected.

“The Establishment is, in effect, underwriting the actions of pedophiles and creating thousands of victims”.

ENDS

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