Shut that stable door and pass the crystal ball.

Maybe I should just set myself up with a shawl, hoop earrings and a crystal ball and tour the country. Move over Una Power. I knew ths sort of thing was going to happen after last week's High court ruling, and lo it has come to pass already.


"In the High Court the State is vigorously defending the continued detention of a 41-year-old man, jailed for the unlawful carnal knowledge of a 12-year-old child.

The man, known only as Mr A, is asking the court to order his release from prison following last week's Supreme Court judgment striking down the law on statutory rape.

Mr A was jailed for three years in 2004 for the statutory rape of a 12-year-old girl after he had bought her seven alcoholic drinks. Innocence was taken from a young child, the trial judge commented when he jailed the man.
Today, in the wake of the Supreme Court decision on Section 1.1 of the 1935 Act, Mr A claims his detention is unlawful and he should be released immediately.

High Court judge Miss Justice Mary Laffoy must decide on this application.

It is the first from a convicted sex offender to come before the courts in the aftermath of last week's judgment.

The man admitted committing the offence and never asserted a defence of mistake in relation to the girl's age.

His senior counsel Conor Devally said it is not their case that the conviction or sentence are invalid and they are not asking the court to review the decision of the DPP to prosecute or the actions of the trial judge. They are simply saying that there is no longer a lawful mechanism to hold Mr A. "

See, see how that works? There is no longer a 'lawful mechanism' to hold the poor child rapist. He got a twelve year old drink and had sex with her, he was only given a 3 year sentence and yet here he is bleating to the high court and demanding his 'right' to appeal the ruling.
Fantastic. But what of the victim's right? That girl was 12 years old, he was 41 when he plied her with drink inpreperation for sex. If that is a not predator I don't know what is.

UPDATE-as promised, I am so disgusted I can barely type.

The High Court has ordered the immediate release of the man known as Mr A who was serving a three-year sentence for the unlawful carnal knowledge of a 12-year-old girl.

Ms Justice Mary Laffoy said his detention had been rendered unlawful by last week's Supreme Court decision striking down the law on statutory rape.

The court also found that it did not have the jurisdiction to continue to hold the 41-year-old in custody to allow the State to go to the Supreme Court.

Mr A had claimed that he was being held in prison on a warrant, which is based on a non-existent law.

The man was 38 at the time of the offence and was nearly two years into a three-year sentence.

Senior counsel Gerard Hogan said during legal submissions yesterday that it would be appalling if those who pleaded guilty to very serious offences involving pre-teen children were to get a windfall bonus from the Supreme Court.