Pat O'Connell

Because if a sex offender arrives in this country, they are, you know, by the letter of the law, meant to inform authorities.

Now, the reality is in quite a lot of cases, as we've seen time and time again, that doesn't happen.

Well, that's a choice that he's going to have to make.

Patrick Nevin has served out his full sentence.

No, remission in this country, there's standard remission of 25% and all prisoners qualify for that regardless of their behavior behind bars.

Unless there's a suspended element of the sentence, you know, that can be reactivated.

That's a different kind of thing.

But Patrick Nevin has served 12 years of the 14-year sentence, which means he has served out his sentence to the last day.

Okay.

He is a free man once he walks out of prison on Thursday.

albeit giving his address, do they sign on once a week?

Yeah, you have to notify the Gardaí of your address within a certain amount of days of changing address.

So, you know, in this event, it's likely that the Gardaí are already aware of where Patrick Nevin is going to be staying.

And if he moves from that address, then he has to notify the Gardaí within a short space of time or he will be in breach of the Sex Offenders Act, which means he can be returned to prison under that.

What we do know is that he's been taking part in various courses and going to school behind bars.

And that's usually indicative that if a prisoner is taking part in the services that are being offered behind bars, that they would also take part and cooperate with the probation services.

I suppose it's worth remembering as well, you know, that there's going to be a number of women, you know, these women that Patrick Nevin attacked, they are going to be feeling extremely vulnerable at this time.

The Brazilian lady who spoke out in the Pat Kenny show in January, when you listen back to what she said and the effect this attack has had on her, it's absolutely heartbreaking.

What did she say, Pat?

She said that, you know, that this attack has had such a devastating effect on her life that she hasn't had a relationship since, that she has never had children and that she will never forget what he did to her.