Most sex offenders do not opt for preventative treatment in prison

Of the 104 sex offenders released last year, about half took part in the voluntary Building Better Lives (BBL) treatment programme introduced in 2009.

Just one of 14 sex offenders in Irish prisons are taking part in preventative treatment at any one time, the Prison Service said.

There were 29 offenders taking part in the programme in 2014, 22 in 2015, and 45 in 2016 and the first half of 2017. In that time, more than 400 sex offenders were released from prison.

The head of One in Four, a charity which provides treatment to sex offenders outside prison, has suggested offering incentives to prisoners for their participation in preventative treatment.

Executive director Maeve Lewis said: “We have called for incentives to be put in place for prisoners who participate in that programme. That might be an offer of earlier release if they complete the programme which just might incentivise more guys to do it.”