Cross Border Link Will Target Sex Offenders

A new all-Ireland agreement to share information on sex offenders has been examined today.

Talks were held between the Irish Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern and the Northern Ireland Office Minister Paul Goggins.

Mr Ahern travelled to Belfast to review co-operation between security services North and South with the Security Minister.

In particular the pair agreed to focus on a deal - signed last month by the Gardaí and the PSNI - to exchange knowledge on investigations into sexual offences and the monitoring of convicted offenders.

A spokesman for Mr Ahern said the Minister was anxious to ensure that information about those who moved between the North and South would be passed on swiftly to either the Gardaí and PSNI.

"The new working relationship between the PSNI and Gardaí on sex offenders has so far being very successful, and both ministers will be examining its working operations and where additional elements of co-operation can be put in place if required," he said.

"They also looked at ways to ensure there is harmonisation between both jurisdiction in relation to sex offenders signing on to both PSNI and Gardaí stations."

Among other issues discussed by the ministers would was enhanced co-operation over victim support, forensic science and youth justice.

A row over the devolution of justice and policing powers has paralysed the NI Executive since last June as Sinn Fein and the DUP fail to agree on the way in which such powers will be taken into the Stormont Assembly.

See: Heat Turned Up On 'Cold House' At Stormont

See: Sex Offender Alert Sparks Cross Border Hunt

(BMcC)