A 47-year-old repeat rapist, described by gardaí as "a predator" and "especially dangerous to women" is to be released from prison early next month — having served only 11 years of a 17-year sentence for rape and sexual assault. www.garda.ie
*UPDATE: A man convicted of two rapes fled through the fields after his brother saw two "hitmen" on a motorcycle gunning for him.
*UPDATE: A man convicted of two rapes fled through the fields after his brother saw two "hitmen" on a motorcycle gunning for him.
Gardaí are searching for the men after they drove up to a halting site in a remote part of Co Cork yesterday looking for Patrick ‘Lo Lo’ O’Driscoll, who is from the Traveller community.
He was at his family’s halting site in Coombe, Glenville shortly before 2pm yesterday when his brother spotted a motorcycle approaching and claimed one of the men on it was armed with a handgun. O’Driscoll, who had also seen them approaching, fled through nearby fields from the halting site, which is 4km west of Glenville, where he lives with his elderly mother.
O’Driscoll was released from the Midlands Prison last month after serving 11 years of a 17-year sentence for the rape of a woman in Fermoy, Co Cork.
The 47-year-old attacked the woman shortly after being released from prison after serving a previous 12-year sentence for the rape of another woman in Kilkenny.
Gardaí were quickly on the scene and sent patrol cars from different areas to corner the alleged hitmen, but despite substantial searches were unable to find them in the warren of byroads in the area.
Later, they discovered a “powerful motorcycle” burnt out in a forest clearing off the main Glenville-Ballyhooly road, about 8km north of Ballyhooly. It is being forensically examined.
Uniformed gardaí and armed detectives combed the area last night looking for the men and the investigation is ongoing.
One woman, who did not wish to be identified, said locals had been living in fear since O’Driscoll returned there after being released from prison on July 9.
“People, especially women, are very concerned by the whole thing,” said the woman.
“There are a lot of isolated houses in this very quiet, rural area. This latest incident highlights our concerns even more.”
Gardaí have been keeping a close eye on O’Driscoll since he arrived back at the halting site, sometimes visiting him up to three times a day, and he has signed on the sex offenders’ register.
Several garda sources have previously claimed that he is one of the most dangerous men in the country.
One source described him “as a predator who’s especially dangerous to women and has a very high likelihood of reoffending”.
Gardaí said that they would not comment on any potential motive for the incident.
However, it was speculated locally that O’Driscoll was being warned to get out of Glenville by a local hardman.
Gardaí are looking for anybody who was in the area between 1pm and 3pm and who saw two men on a motorcycle, wearing dark clothing, to contact Fermoy Garda Station at 025 82100.
Cork-born Patrick ‘Lo Lo’ O’Driscoll is due to be released from the Midlands Prison on July 9.
He was sentenced in 2003 for a “savage, barbaric, and brutal attack on a totally innocent woman” in Fermoy, Co Cork.
At the time of this attack, he was just months out of prison following sentencing for another vicious rape in Co Kilkenny.
His latest victim and her mother admitted they are “living in fear” over the release of the man described by gardaí as one of Ireland’s most dangerous men.
The rape victim, who cannot be identified, admitted she has reviewed her personal security, sleeps with a baseball bat by her pillow and hates going outside alone since the news was broken to her.
She described the Irish justice system as “a joke”.
O’Driscoll attacked the young woman just months after being released from prison for a separate rape sentence.
He had served nine years of a 12-year sentence — but reoffended within weeks of his release.
“The Irish justice system has questions to answer.... Why is he left out early again?” the Co Cork woman asked on TV3 News.
Under sex offenders legislation, O’Driscoll must notify gardaí of his permanent address within seven days of his release next month.
It’s understood he wants to return to an encampment at Coome, Glenville, where he was living with his mother and brother.
If he changes address, he is obliged to notify gardaí within 24 hours.
Garda sources have described him as “a predator who is especially dangerous to women and has a very high likelihood of re-offending”. O’Driscoll, who does not drink alcohol, is described by gardaí as “very much a loner”.
It’s understood they will be watching his movements as closely as possible.
However this will not be easy as in the past, he has been known to travel extensively around the country from his base in Glenville.
No comments:
Post a Comment