Fri, 16 July 2004

Marc My Words. By Marc Alexander MP

Who imprisons who?

Just a hop and a step from the cultural and intellectual capital of New Zealand - Christchurch - is the small rural community of Halkett. Its law-abiding residents are about to have a very unwelcome guest imposed on them. Lloyd McIntosh is a high-risk paedophile. In my opinion he is one of the most dangerous and violent sex offenders this country has ever known and should never be released.

After raping a six year old in 1989, McIntosh was found to be unfit to appear in Court and was sent to Lake Alice Hospital. He was subsequently released in 1993 after being considered no longer mentally ill. While he was 'treated' for his problems (albeit unsuccessfully) he was released without ever being held to account for what he did.

Within three months he had brutally raped a 23 month old baby girl in Wanganui.

He was found guilty and given a ten year sentence only, after which he was placed under a supposed 24 hour supervision regime. Within three months he managed to assault an intellectually handicapped woman while his supervisor remained oblivious, outside the door. Again he was given an inadequate sentence in my view, of a paltry 18 months. Having served a scant half of this sentence he now comes up for parole; monitored with the installation not only of alarms and security cameras but also, courtesy of the taxpayers' generosity, Sky TV!!

It may be that with an estimated IQ of 60, prison may be inappropriate for Lloyd McIntosh. He is as close to being a 'village idiot' as can be imagined, but to release him into one, is to inflict great risk on the children and good citizens of Halkett. If ever there was an argument for a life-long custodial management of an offender, McIntosh is a prime example. He is beyond the point of rehabilitation and there is no good reason to expose anyone to the potential threat that he clearly poses.

I would suggest to those who persist in believing that offenders as either culpable or sick (as McIntosh undoubtedly is), who honestly believe that such people deserve to be placed in the community, to stick their charitable hands up, and look after people like Lloyd McIntosh themselves. All others should employ their commonsense and stay well clear.

It seems to me absurd that because of this one sexual predator's so called 'rights' to live outside prison, the community of Halkett will now have to lock themselves up as if they were in prison, to protect themselves! What a farce!

At some point we must come to the sensible conclusion that not all people deserve to be treated the same; the criminal should not be given equal standing with the law-abiding!

ENDS

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