BREAKING NEWS: The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence has now received preliminary information from An Garda Síochána in response to his request for information about the circumstances surrounding the continued employment of a caretaker at a school in Donegal despite his conviction for child abuse.
The Minister has been informed by the Garda Commissioner that their records show that on 16 October, 2002 the then Health Board were informed by the Gardaí, in accordance with the Children First guidelines, of the conviction of the person in question and of where he was believed to be working.
Mr Shatter said: “It is the clear recollection of Gardaí that the owner of the school was in court for the criminal proceedings against that person.
“In addition, a Garda subsequently spoke to the owner of the school about the conviction and expressed his concerns about that person continuing to work at the school.”
Minister Shatter added: “I welcome this clarification from the Garda Commissioner. This makes it all the more necessary for those who chose to continue the employment of this person to explain themselves.”
Sicko Michael Ferry abused dozens of boys at the summer college in Gaoth Dobhair.
Ferry, 56, was jailed for 18 years on Monday on 38 sample charges relating to sickening sex attacks on four boys between 1991 and 2003.
The offences took place at Ardscoil Mhuire in Derrybeg in Gaoth Dobhair where Ferry was the caretaker.
One in Four today welcomes Minister Alan shatters intervention in the Michael Ferry case and Garda Commissioner Callinan’s prompt response.
Executive Director Maeve Lewis says “It appears that the Gardai acted completely appropriately in both notifying the HSE and in alerting convicted sex offender Michael Ferry’s employer. That the owner of a school should continue to employ such a person, in a position with access to children is absolutely unbelievable. It amounts to reckless endangerment of children.”
“It is also unacceptable that neither the Gardai nor the HSE appear to have the authority to prevent a registered sex offender from occupying a position of trust. As a result, the lives of at least four young men have been devastated.”
“This case underlines the urgency of introducing the proposed revamped National Garda Vetting Bureau. One in Four calls on Minister Shatter to ensure that it becomes a criminal offence to employ any person in a position of trust with children who has not been vetted, and we call on the Gardai to pursue vigorously anybody who commits the offence of reckless endangerment of a child.”