The Rape Crisis Network Ireland said Gerard Kelly's case highlighted the shortcomings in pre-release risk assessment and post-release supervision of sex offenders.
However, director Fiona Neary welcomed yesterday's life term. "Sentences which signal that sexual violence is treated seriously in our society are extremely important," she said.
Ms Neary pointed out that the number of serious sexual attacks being reported to the Garda had declined in recent years despite her organisation seeing no evidence of a decline in attacks.
Detection rates had also fallen, from 71 per cent in 2000 to 35 per cent in 2004. It has now emerged that Kelly could have been in prison in September 2004 finishing a 10-year sentence for rape but was freed early. Allowing for remission, he was due for release in May 2005 after raping a pregnant teenager in Dún Laoghaire in November 1997. However, in April 2004 the Central Criminal Court suspended the rest of that 10-year sentence.
