Over a quarter of all convicted sex offenders in the country are living in the South East.
The annual report by the Sex Offender Risk Assessment and Management programme (SORAM), shows that out of 173 offenders, 47 are living in counties Waterford, Wexford, Tipperary, Kilkenny and Carlow.
The Irish Times reports that the increase in the South East was described as a “significant change” by SORAM, marking a 20 per cent rise since January 2020.
The five south-eastern counties overtook the Dublin Metropolitan Region, which had accounted for 30 per cent last year, but was the location of just 24 per cent (41) at the beginning of 2021.
All but one of the 173 convicted sex offenders under the supervision of SORAM last year were male, while their ages ranged from 77 to 19, according to the report.
Two of the offenders are on licence from the United Kingdom and are being supervised in a non-statutory capacity, according to the report.
A total of five of the sex offenders are categorised as posing a “very high” risk of reoffending, while 36 others are described as being “high” risk. Some 97 are labelled “medium” risk.
The offences of which they were convicted include rape or attempted rape, defilement of a child, sexual or indecent assault, sexual exploitation and aggravated sexual assault.
A total of 19 of the offenders were convicted of more than one offence, and five were convicted of offences including indecent exposure, masturbation in public, and harassment or stalking.
