Prison term for failing to notify change of address

A-35-year old sex offender, who has been living in the Ennis area but failed to comply with a requirement for him to notify a change of his address with the gardaí, has this week received a four month prison term.

The defendant, who is currently of no fixed abode, initially appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday charged under the Sex Offenders Act 2001 with failing to notify a change of address between December 4, 2014 and December 14, 2014.

On that date, Detective Garda John Casey outlined to the court that the defendant was convicted in the Central Criminal  Court on April 25, 2005 and was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

Following his release from his sentence charges of sexual assault and rape of a male person, the defendant was required under the Sex Offenders Act 2001 to notify gardaí of his home address.

Detective Casey said the defendant had spent three nights sleeping rough in Ennis town, and had also spent a number of nights at the acute unit in Ennis, but had not informed gardaí he had changed address.

He said he met with the defendant once he left the acute unit when the defendant gave him an undertaking he would register an address, be it temporary or permanent.

“He failed to do so and on Sunday he was arrested for failing to notify,” Detective Casey outlined.

In total, he said, the defendant had been absent 10 days from the address he was registered at in Ennis.

The court heard there was two suspended sentences hanging over the accused in other matters and the court would have to consider activating these sentences in light of a conviction on the failing to notify charge.

On Friday, Judge Patrick Durcan considered activating the sentences imposed in relation to a previous conviction for failing to notify gardaí of a change of address, and also a conviction in respect of criminal damage in the Galway area.

Judge Durcan activated a four month prison sentence in respect of the criminal damage matter, but made no order in respect of the suspended sentence previously imposed on the earlier failing to notify case.

He then sentenced the defendant to four months in prison in relation to the new matter of failing to notify gardaí of a change of address this December. He ordered that the sentences run concurrently.