DECLAN KELLY,
Madam, - Kathy Sheridan asks (November 21st) "Where do sex abusers go when they have done their time?" She objects to the shameful hounding of Ivan Payne by tabloid editors and suggests that because he remains in therapy and has a network of family and friends who are willing to support him and to whom he would be accountable, he ought therefore to be left in peace.
But can we speak of "doing time" or "paying one's debt to society" when we are dealing with someone who has committed multiple paedophile or ephebophile sexual assaults?
As if release from custody were such a person's right after having done this time. We talk of such people receiving "treatment", as if treatment changed their sexual orientation. Could we change a heterosexual person into a homosexual person, or vice versa, with treatment? Would anyone even want to change thus?
It's comfortable for us to think that a paedophile or ephebophile orientation can be "cured". It allows us to do the Christian thing and to set the person free and so feel good about ourselves. Kathy Sheridan tells us that Ivan Payne has undergone 500 hours of private therapy.
That's like telling us that a vampire has received 500 hours of private therapy on how to be human. A clever vampire will keep his mouth shut and play along.
It's not only a matter of doing time, it's a matter of some people not being suitable for habitation where there are children or young people - which is just about everywhere.
There should be safe, comfortable places for such people to live in peace .. but with high security... AFTER they have "done their time". - Yours, etc.,
DECLAN KELLY,
Whitechurch Road,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 14.