No risk staff for McDermotts

A SOCIAL worker rather than a Designated Risk Manager (DRM) was appointed to supervise the paedophile McDermott brothers in Gransha because the Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) imposed on them did not require a specially trained DRM, according to the Justice Minister.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Jul 2012, 13:55 BST

David Ford was asked by DUP MLA Lord Morrow why a supervising officer, rather than a designated risk manager, was assigned to Owen Roe and James McDermott, given that they were subject to a SOPO and were both regarded as a potential risk.

He claimed: “In this case, the court made a supervision and treatment order which requires the person in respect of whom it is made to be under the supervision of a social worker or probation officer for a period specified in the order.

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“A social worker employed by the Western Health and Social Care Trust was nominated by the court to fulfil that role. A sexual offences prevention order does not require the appointment of a designated risk manager.

“The police were, however, responsible for the enforcement of the conditions in the order and worked alongside the nominated social worker to manage risk.”

The supervising officer is responsible for informing the PSNI of any decision by the McDermott brothers to leave Gransha and together the relevant statutory agencies have to approve or disapprove any new address put forward by the pair as a potential residence.

In 2010 the brothers were bound by a court-imposed Supervision and Treatment Order (STO) issued to the Western Health and Care Trust (WHSCT).

The added protection of the SOPO - the responsibility of the PSNI - is to ensure the protection of children and the public.