Child rapist freed 'by mistake'
2006-05-31 14:59
Dublin - Ireland plans to rush new laws on
rape through parliament next week after a Supreme Court ruling
left open a loophole that allowed a man convicted of raping a
12-year-old girl to be freed.
The Supreme Court ruled last week that a 1935 law on
statutory rape, under which any man who has sex with a girl
under the age of 15 is automatically guilty of a crime, was
unconstitutional.
A 41-year-old man known only as 'Mr A', who was jailed in
2004 after he admitted having sex with the underage girl,
applied for release from prison following the ruling. The High
Court judge who granted his release on Tuesday said the Supreme
Court's ruling made his detention unlawful.
Mr A's release has caused uproar in Ireland, with a deluge
of calls to national radio and angry scenes in parliament.
Furious politicians demanded to know how Minister for
Justice Michael McDowell could have allowed this situation to
develop.
"Thanks to your breathtaking incompetence, Mr 'A' has walked
and so might Mr B, C, D, E and F," said Enda Kenny, leader of
opposition party Fine Gael.
Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said he hoped to have new
legislation drawn up by the weekend to close the loophole and
would recall parliament - which was not due to be in session
next week - to pass the legislation if required.
The Department of Justice said a legal team for the state
would ask the Supreme Court on Wednesday morning to appeal the
High Court's judgment on Mr A.