JOSEPH MCCOLGAN: CORNWALL AND HOLSWORTHY'S MOST NOTORIOUS PAEDOPHILE ON THE RUN

In April 2022, new photographs of Joseph McColgan have emerged, shedding light on the notorious offender whose criminal history spans decades and multiple locations across the UK and Ireland.

Joseph McColgan, who has also operated under the alias Joseph Simms since March 2017, has a long and disturbing criminal record. His history of heinous crimes includes a conviction for the rape of his own children, which resulted in a staggering 238-year prison sentence. Despite the severity of his crimes, McColgan served only nine years before being granted early release. His criminal activities and subsequent releases have raised serious concerns about public safety, especially given his current whereabouts.

As of November 2015, McColgan was residing in a flat near the library in Newton Square, Bampton, close to Tiverton. His movements have been closely monitored, and his criminal past is well-documented. In September 2015, he was identified as Ireland’s most infamous paedophile, known as the 'Beast of Sligo,' before relocating to Cornwall. The Irishman, now aged 73, was once considered one of the most dangerous offenders on the police database due to his extensive history of sexual abuse and violent crimes.

McColgan’s criminal record includes a series of convictions for sexual offenses against children. In June 2010, while living in Exmouth, Devon, he received a 30-month sentence for possessing child abuse images. Once again, he was released early, highlighting a pattern of leniency despite the gravity of his offenses. His current address is listed as Meneghy Probation/Bail Hostel, located at 16 East Hill, Tuckingmill, Camborne, Cornwall, TR14 8NQ. This facility is under supervision, but questions remain about the adequacy of monitoring given his history.

In August 2011, concerns were raised about McColgan’s freedom to roam the streets, especially considering his past convictions. Despite being jailed for 238 years, he was seen freely mingling with families and children at a car boot sale in Plymouth, Devon. Witnesses reported seeing him pushing his bike, chatting with young children and adults alike, seemingly unbothered by his notorious reputation. He was spotted engaging with a young boy while attempting to purchase spanners for his bike and was observed browsing stalls selling children's toys, all while being on license.

McColgan’s presence at the sale was particularly alarming given his history of abuse. He was known to have attempted to force his nine-year-old son into sexual acts with his seven-year-old daughter, and his abuse extended to all four of his children, whom he reportedly assaulted with cattle prods and burned. Despite these horrific crimes, he appeared at the event in a seemingly casual manner, cycling back to his bail hostel after his brief outing.

His previous residence was in Exmouth, east Devon, where he lived in a small flat just yards from a primary school. Neighbors were unaware of his past until they learned of his criminal history, which shocked the local community. When Judge Graham Cottle sentenced him at Exeter Crown Court in June 2010, he described McColgan as a “very dangerous man” and emphasized the importance of strict supervision upon his release to prevent further harm to children.

Detective Constable Steve Harris of Devon and Cornwall police characterized McColgan as an arrogant individual who refused to accept responsibility for his crimes. McColgan has publicly dismissed allegations of grooming or watching children as “liars,” further demonstrating his denial and lack of remorse.

His history of abuse is extensive and deeply disturbing. It includes a prolonged campaign of physical and sexual violence against his own children, which lasted nearly 20 years. His daughter Sophia and son Gerard endured brutal beatings, sexual assaults, and emotional torment. Sophia recounted being raped at age six, just before her First Holy Communion, and described her father’s violent and perverse behavior in harrowing detail. Gerard, who was just a year older, also suffered abuse and attempted to escape multiple times, only to be returned and beaten further.

Despite numerous reports to authorities, little was done to intervene during the early years of the abuse. Social workers and doctors documented the severity of the family’s situation, but systemic failures allowed the cycle of violence to continue. In 1995, McColgan pleaded guilty to 26 charges of physical and sexual abuse and was sentenced to 238 years, though the sentences were to run concurrently, effectively only 12 years. He served just nine years before early release.

Following his release, McColgan’s family reached a £1 million settlement in a negligence case against the North Western Health Board and their family doctor, though liability was not admitted. Sophia, who now resides in Britain with her son Gavin, has spoken publicly about her traumatic past, emphasizing her efforts to break the silence surrounding her abuse. She expressed hope that her story would serve as a warning and a call for vigilance.

Gerard, her brother, remains convinced that their father will re-offend, citing threats and his own observations of McColgan’s denial and dangerous tendencies. Both siblings agree that the leniency of his sentences and early releases pose ongoing risks to society, especially to vulnerable children.

As McColgan continues to live freely in Cornwall and Holsworthy, questions about the adequacy of supervision and the potential threat he poses to the community remain. Authorities and the public alike are urged to remain vigilant, given his history of violence and sexual offenses against children, and the disturbing pattern of early releases that have allowed him to re-enter society repeatedly.