Judges had tools to deal with McDermotts: Ford

Owen Roe and James McDermott were eventually sent to Gransha hospital in 2010 after residents of the County Fermanagh village launched a campaign against their presence there.

But now Mr Ford says ‘no legal loopholes’ had to be closed following the controversy as the justice system had the requisite tools in place to deal with the situation at the time.

Lord Morrow asked the Minister if “there had been any legislative changes following the McDermott brothers’ case to ensure that the legal loopholes, which restricted the judiciary, cannot be used to permit offenders to reside in the same community as their victims.”

Mr Ford said he had extended the period available for a Supervision and Treatment Order (STO) from two to three years but said that the change was not to address any legal loophole.

He said it was to widen court powers and in support of a request made by a judge.

The Minister said the judiciary had all the tools it needed to deal appropriately with the McDermotts at the time.

“Courts have, and already deploy, additional powers in cases such as these where residence requirements can be applied. It is, for example, open to the court to use a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) to place conditions on residence where it is deemed necessary in the interest of protecting the public from serious sexual harm,” he said.

“A SOPO with residence requirements and a STO were applied in the McDermott brothers’ case.

“I am also very alert to the needs and requirements of victims and communities to have their voices heard,” he added.