JAMES WHITE AND JASON LYDIARD: DISTURBING SEX OFFENDERS ON THE RUN IN IRELAND'S SOUTH ARMAGH AND CORK

In a shocking turn of events in July 2018, a convicted sex offender named James White, along with Jason Lydiard, who is also known as Alexis Gusto, found themselves at the center of a violent vigilante incident in south Armagh, Ireland. Despite their status as high-risk sex offenders and the strict conditions imposed upon their release from prison, both men managed to evade police surveillance for a period, only to be eventually located and subjected to brutal assault by local residents.

James White, a man with a long and troubling criminal history, was originally jailed in Ireland in 1998 for heinous crimes including two counts of buggery and five charges of sexual assault against a teenage boy in County Meath. After serving his sentence, he was released in 2003 but continued to be a figure of concern due to his numerous previous convictions, which total 62 and include sexual assault, threats to kill, and assault causing bodily harm. White's movements over the years have been closely monitored by authorities, but he managed to disappear for a year in 2015 despite being under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). He later reappeared in the North of Ireland in 2016, residing in County Down, before vanishing again earlier in 2018.

Jason Lydiard, a 25-year-old man from Bessbrook, also has a disturbing criminal record, with nine prior convictions for sexual assault and threats to kill. He was released from custody earlier in 2018 after serving time for his offenses. Lydiard is also known by the alias Alexis Gusto and has publicly expressed his religious beliefs, claiming to be a Born-Again Christian. Despite his release, he was found to have breached the conditions of his release, including failing to inform authorities of his whereabouts and attending probation meetings, which led to legal proceedings in Newry Crown Court. On Thursday, Lydiard appeared before the court, where he admitted to violating two Sexual Offences Prevention Orders by not notifying the police of his location and attending meetings without permission. He received a conditional discharge for one breach but was sentenced to two months in custody for the other, though he was released after serving some time.

Earlier in May 2018, a disturbing incident unfolded in Mullaghbawn, a village in south Armagh, where a vigilante group, incensed by the presence of these convicted offenders, launched a violent attack. The local community, including residents armed with iron bars, confronted White and Gusto, who were on the run from police. The situation escalated rapidly, with witnesses describing how the men were beaten, kicked, and even tied to a bench before being covered in paint. One eyewitness recounted her disbelief that both men were still alive after the assault, stating, "They kicked them in the head. They beat them with sticks. They jeered. They took pictures of them. I thought one of them was dead."

Efforts by a priest, Fr John Heagney, to de-escalate the violence proved unsuccessful, as he pleaded with the vigilantes to cease their attack. The priest's intervention was a rare attempt to prevent further violence, but the community's anger was palpable. It is understood that White and Gusto had been hiding in the nearby Glendesha Forest, attempting to evade capture. Following the assault, both men were taken to hospital for treatment. Gusto, also known as Lydiard, appeared in Newry Crown Court on a bench warrant and was remanded in custody, while White was transferred directly to prison from the hospital.

Authorities are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the assault and the subsequent detention of the two men. The incident has raised serious concerns about community safety and the effectiveness of existing legal measures to control high-risk offenders. The vigilante attack underscores the ongoing tensions between the community and individuals with a history of sexual offenses, especially when such offenders are perceived to be at large and unmonitored.

In a broader context, the situation in Ireland has been compounded by reports from April 2018, which revealed that White and Lydiard had been involved in targeting children in various locations, including Newcastle West in County Limerick and Bandon in County Cork. Gardaí (Irish police) had intelligence indicating that the pair, both originally from the North, were operating as a depraved duo, approaching children in public spaces such as parks and leisure centers. It is believed that their modus operandi involved one acting as a lookout in a vehicle while the other engaged with children, a tactic that heightened fears among local communities.

Despite serving time in the North, both White and Lydiard are still legally required to inform Gardaí of their whereabouts. However, they have been accused of ignoring these obligations, with Lydiard reportedly using a fake social media profile to identify potential victims and even posting online videos claiming divine intervention had