Justice Establishment should hang their heads in shame
The Sensible Sentencing Trust says the victims of a serial sex-offender could have been spared their ordeal if an
On-Line Offender Register was in operation.
The 89-year old Wellington man, one of the oldest men to be sentenced for historic sexual abuse, pleaded guilty to 42
charges of indecencies to boys and girls, attempted rape, and unlawful sexual connection.
During sentencing, Judge John Butler said the man had previous convictions for obscene exposure and attempted indecent
assault dating back to the 1950s.
Spokesman, Garth McVicar said the Justice Establishment should hang their heads in shame over a decision that has sent
shockwaves through the general public.
“How many more children must be abused before politicians show some courage and introduce an On-Line Sex-Offender
Register to protect the public from offenders like this?” McVicar says. “This predator, hiding in a man’s clothing, has
been able to prey on innocent children for a period spanning 50 odd years!”
McVicar also is furious over the protection of sex-offenders. “It appears that our Justice Establishment is hell-bent on
protecting sex-offenders rather than protecting our women and children from them.”
The Sensible Sentencing Trust is currently facing legal action from the Director of Human Rights who alleges the Trust
breached a convicted pedophile’s privacy by naming him on the Trusts sex-offender register. The offender alleges he has
name suppression but extensive inquiries by the Privacy Commissioner and the Director of Human Rights has failed to
produce any evidence that any such suppression order exists.
The Trust is vowing to use the case as an example of the need for an official On-Line Register. The case is due to be
heard in Court in August.
Mr McVicar said many countries make public safety the paramount consideration by having a publicly available on line
register. “Here in New Zealand our Courts and Govt Departments go to extraordinary lengths to ensure the offenders are
protected.
“The Establishment is, in effect, underwriting the actions of pedophiles and creating thousands of victims”.
ENDS