THERE are currently 113 sex offenders being managed in the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s F District, an area which encompasses Fermanagh-south Tyrone, it has been revealed.

DUP MLA Maurice Morrow says the figure is “proportionately high compared to other jurisdictions” and is calling for paedophiles to be identified, claiming the authorities are “failing” to engage with the community.

F District has the third highest number of sex offenders out of eight districts. 107 of the sex offenders being managed in this area are classed at Category 1, which is the lowest risk while six are in Category 2, medium risk.

“Whilst F District has the lowest overall for community management, the number of Category 2 offenders is worrying against other policing districts,” Lord Morrow told The Impartial Reporter.

The DUP peer said communities such as Donagh are “haunted by the systematic abuse of many children over a protracted period at the hands of the McDermott brothers” and added: “Yet despite the singular attention this case drew, not least because of the abject horror of what occurred in a quiet rural area, two of these men were again placed in the community close to a school.” Lord Morrow has accused the authorities of “failing to appropriately engage with the community prior to these placements.” “If they had done so, they would have immediately discovered the close proximity to schools and children was totally unacceptable. I cannot fathom how accommodation cannot be found well away from schools or areas where children frequent. The emphasis in these matters continues to be placed on the offenders and the victims appear to count for nothing. That is public protection falling drastically short,” he said.

Lord Morrow has vowed to fight for the introduction of Sarah’s Law in Northern Ireland, to bring it alongside England and Wales which enacted the legislation in 2008. The disclosure scheme named after eight year old victim Sarah Payne means a parent or guardian can ask police if a person who has contact with children is a child sex offender.

“Although the Government initially described it as unworkable, it is now operational across all 43 police forces,” he said.

Lord Morrow believes Justice Minister David Ford should give serious consideration into including Sarah’s Law in the forthcoming Justice Bill.

“Such legislation would place the safety of our children on a level par with their counterparts in England and Wales. In short Northern Ireland, is losing out and that puts children at risk, and creates the potential for more victims.”