JAMES OWEN MCDERMOTT SHOCKS DERRY AND DONAGH WITH NEARBY SCHOOL LIVING ARRANGEMENT

In February 2015, a highly controversial decision by authorities in Northern Ireland has sparked widespread outrage and intense scrutiny. The case involves James and Owen Roe McDermott, two brothers with a long history of heinous sexual offenses, who have been permitted to reside in close proximity to Oakgrove Integrated College in Derry city. This decision has raised serious questions about the safety of local children and the judgment of those responsible for managing the offenders' placements.

It was revealed last week that the McDermott brothers, who a judge described as having inflicted a 'tidal wave of abuse' on children, are living in a house just steps away from the school. Photographs captured the two men taking an afternoon walk near the educational institution, causing alarm among parents and community members. The sighting has intensified concerns about the potential risk posed by the brothers, who have a documented history of predatory behavior.

In response to the revelations, DUP Member of the Legislative Assembly Maurice Morrow has demanded accountability from Justice Minister David Ford. Morrow has submitted a series of questions to the Assembly, seeking clarity on the agencies involved in managing the McDermott brothers' case, the risk assessments that led to their current residence, and whether housing serial sex offenders near schools is standard practice. He has also called for a comprehensive review of the decision-making processes that allowed such a placement.

Lord Morrow did not hold back in his condemnation, describing the situation as an 'appalling error of judgment.' He emphasized that placing convicted sex offenders in such close proximity to a school is a breach of human rights and endangers the safety of children. The DUP peer stated, 'This is a deplorable and totally unacceptable situation. The agencies responsible have many questions to answer, and responsibility lies entirely with them. Children and young people are vulnerable due to their age, and the risks of placing predatory sex offenders near their school are outrageous.'

James McDermott, aged 63, and Owen Roe McDermott, aged 55, were released from court in 2010 after being deemed mentally unfit to stand trial on 19 counts of child sex abuse in the village of Donagh, County Fermanagh. Despite their mental health status, they were found guilty in their absence by a jury. Their older brother, Peter Paul McDermott, 62, tragically took his own life the day after he appeared in court on multiple paedophile charges. Another brother, John McDermott, aged 65, received a ten-year prison sentence for abusing nine children. The McDermott family is believed to have assaulted as many as 50 children over a span of more than three decades, from 1969 to 2002, in Donagh.

Following their court case, James and Owen Roe McDermott were transferred to Lakeview Hospital in Derry as voluntary patients. Subsequently, they were moved to their current residence, which was specially adapted for them by the Western Trust. A spokesperson for the Trust declined to comment on individual cases, citing confidentiality. The local school principal, Jill Markham of Oakgrove Integrated College, assured the public that the safety of students remains her top priority. She stated, 'I have liaised closely with the PSNI and Western Trust on this matter and have done everything in my power to ensure that others prioritize student safety.'

However, the move has been met with fierce criticism from survivors and advocacy groups. Michael Connolly, who survived abuse at the hands of the McDermott brothers, expressed his outrage publicly last week. He warned that if the brothers encounter any child who crosses their path, they are likely to act on their predatory instincts, stating, 'Believe me, if they get a chance to get their hands on any child who strays into their path, they'll take it.'

In a related development from June 2012, the community of Donagh faced ongoing concerns about the brothers' potential return to their family home. The Chief Constable was granted authority to determine where James and Owen Roe could live, as they were deemed unfit to return to their previous residence. The brothers had been allowed to live in their family home under a Supervision and Treatment Order, but public outcry and fears for community safety led to legal restrictions. The court, led by Judge David McFarland, ordered that the brothers could not live at any address other than those approved by their risk managers, effectively preventing them from returning to Donagh.

Legal restrictions also prohibit the brothers from working with children or entering certain areas of the village, including the playground and local primary school, unless accompanied by an approved adult. The case prompted multiple inquiries by the Department of Justice and the Department of Health, which examined how the original court and social services handled the case. The inquiries resulted in several recommendations aimed at improving the management of similar cases in the future. Meanwhile, their brother John remains incarcerated after a nine-year sentence for 35 charges of abuse, with his sentence extended last year for additional offenses. The youngest brother, Peter Paul, committed suicide shortly after his trial began in 2010, leaving a legacy of tragedy and horror in the community of Donagh.