Enniskillen Magistrates Court
A NEWTOWNBUTLER man who is classed as a “category one” sexual offender was living rough in Monaghan town for two weeks before being apprehended by the Garda for theft.
Last Wednesday at Enniskillen Magistrates Court, Oliver Swift (67) of Mill Hill Road in the village pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the police travel notification requirements in relation to the incident last year.
Swift had been convicted of a sexual offence at Omagh Crown Court in 1997 and, having being deemed a category one offender, has since been subject to a notification order to inform police when he intended to travel abroad for more than three days, including to the South.
On Wednesday, August 3 last year Swift was arrested for theft in Monaghan Town and the PSNI were contacted by An Garda Siochana who informed them the defendant had been living rough in the town for around two weeks.
Defence barrister Stephen Fitzpatrick said Swift had complied with the requirements imposed on him for twenty years. That was until two years ago, when he was convicted after being found living under a bridge in Enniskillen for three or four days.
Mr Fitzpatrick added that Swift had no charges against him pending, and stressed there had been no suggestion of any offending other than breaching his notification order. With regard the breach of this order, the barrister said Swift, had “simply taken himself from his family home” then found he had no money to return.
He said the defendant accepted he should’ve contacted either the Garda or his family.
Mr Fitzpatrick added Swift had some “comprehension issues” but said he did understand the charge, and added the defendant had to be hospitalised for mental health issues after the incident where he was sleeping under the bridge in 2015. He asked the court to “stay its hand” and leave something hanging over Swift’s head.
District Judge Phillip Mateer said he would be concerned that Swift should receive agency supervision, as this was the second time he’d been convicted of a similar offence. He adjourned sentencing in the case until May 2 to allow Swift time to consider consenting to probation and the supervision that accompanies it.
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere