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Gallagher welcomes debate on sex offender legislation

SDLP Health spokesperson Tommy Gallagher has welcomed a suggestion from the Health Minister that loopholes governing sex offenders too mentally ill to stand trial may be strengthened in light of a recent case in Fermanagh.

Fri 25th June

The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA said: “The difficulty current legislation poses for local parents and local communities is something we have to take extremely seriously.
 
“There has to be proper consultation in a local area, with victims, families, schools and community groups before people with convictions are resettled in a certain community or area.
 
“At the moment this falls under the domain of the Department of Health and although there is a debate over whether it should be a justice issue, there still needs to be a solution found in the immediate term. That has been evidenced by the case in Donagh. It also shows the need for proper cross-departmental working between health and justice.
 
“We must seek to strengthen the current health legislation under whose remit this falls. The safeguarding of the community and peace of mind for victims, families and the wider community is of paramount importance.”

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