KIERAN O’HALLORAN: DISTURBING REPEAT OFFENDER LIVES NEAR KILKENNY, DUBLIN, AND KERRY SCHOOLS

In a troubling development that has sparked outrage among local residents, Kieran O’Halloran, a man with a long and disturbing criminal history involving child exploitation, has recently moved into a residence in Foxrock, Dublin, situated just a short distance from Loreto College, a girls’ school. This decision has ignited fears and anger among parents and community members who are deeply concerned about the safety of their children.

O’Halloran, who has been twice convicted for attempting to arrange sexual encounters with minors, was released from prison only two weeks prior to his return to the Dublin area. His current residence is a house in Foxrock that overlooks the hockey pitch of Loreto College, a detail that has not gone unnoticed by local parents. Many are questioning the appropriateness of his living so close to a school attended by young girls, given his past offenses and the nature of his crimes.

One resident expressed their frustration, stating, “People are furious. Everybody is waiting to see what happens next. He is a paedophile and he’s a repeat offender. Parents are having conversations with their kids now and perhaps a bit sooner than they would have.” The community’s concern is compounded by the fact that O’Halloran has shown no remorse and continues to assert that he poses no threat to children, despite his criminal record.

When approached by the Sunday World for comment, O’Halloran claimed he would keep a low profile and stay out of trouble. He expressed regret over his past actions, emphasizing that he has served his time and undergone therapeutic programs while incarcerated. “I have been through enough. It hasn’t been easy. The whole thing is tragic and I regret it very much. There is not going to be a repeat,” he stated.

He acknowledged his history as a repeat offender but insisted that he now believes he is no longer a danger. “I have done my time. I did four-and-a-half years this time in prison. I did whatever therapeutic work was available in prison at the time. I’m trying to get on with my life now,” he added. O’Halloran also took responsibility for his past deeds, asserting that he intends to make better choices moving forward and that vilification only exacerbates his struggles.

O’Halloran revealed that he is also a survivor of childhood abuse, which he believes may have influenced his actions. “There have been things in my past life and my young life that influenced how I progressed. That is not to say in any way I condone it. I made the choices, I made the decisions in the past. I hope now I have the capacity to make better decisions in the future,” he explained.

Residents have voiced particular concern about the fact that his house overlooks Loreto College’s hockey pitch, fearing that his proximity to the school could pose a risk. However, O’Halloran denied any direct connection to the school, stating, “My room is in the back of the house. I don’t even overlook the school.” He also referenced recent cases involving sex offenders, acknowledging that such incidents cause community anxiety.

He claimed to have completed all available treatment programs while in prison, emphasizing that he has received support and hopes to avoid repeating past mistakes. “People have been very, very good and tried to help. These are people who don’t want to see the same thing happen again and don’t want me to suffer as a result of the choices and decisions I’ve made,” he said.

O’Halloran is currently residing with a friend, Willie Phelan, who previously provided character evidence for him during his trial. Phelan, originally from Kerry but with significant ties to Kilkenny, has a history of financial difficulties, including a court judgment for €14.6 million related to a property development project that failed. Phelan’s house was repossessed but remains his residence due to lack of sale.

O’Halloran’s criminal history is extensive. His first arrest occurred in December 2001 when he met a prostitute in Blackhall Place. Although he did not engage in sex, he asked her to find a young girl, specifying an age of seven or nine. The prostitute, horrified, passed his details to Gardaí, which led to his arrest.

He was sentenced to two years in jail in 2003 for attempting to procure a child for sex and possessing child abuse images. Following his release in July 2004, he resumed his predatory behavior, asking prostitutes in 2005 and 2006 to source children for sex, and even claimed to have abused children abroad. His claims of international abuse were denied by his barrister, who stated Gardaí found no evidence of such activity.

In 2009, O’Halloran was convicted and sentenced to six years for similar offenses, though he received time off for good behavior. Despite his incarceration, he continued to pose a significant risk, as evidenced by a 2010 case where the Irish State successfully increased his sentence by 15 months after he incited prostitutes to find children for him to abuse. The Court of Criminal Appeal replaced his original sentence with a six-year term, emphasizing that his case demonstrated a depraved mind and that society must be protected from his dangerous tendencies.

Throughout his criminal career, O’Halloran has worked as a crime prevention officer, working with children and even providing support to families affected by sexual abuse. His recent move back into the Dublin area has reignited fears among residents, many of whom recall his previous behavior and are wary of his presence near their children’s schools and recreational facilities.