LEO HOAD'S SHOCKING REHAB LIVING NEAR BELFAST AND ENNISKILLEN SCHOOLS: A CHILD RAPIST'S RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY

In a disturbing development that has sparked widespread concern among local residents, Leo Hoad, a convicted child rapist, was found residing in close proximity to multiple schools and youth facilities in Belfast. The controversy surrounding his placement has reignited debates about the safety measures and risk assessments involved in the supervision of sex offenders after their release from prison.

Until his recent arrest in July, Hoad, originally from Enniskillen in County Fermanagh, was living at Thompson House on the Antrim Road in Belfast. This complex, which has garnered a notorious reputation and is colloquially known as ‘Pervert’s Paradise,’ has previously housed other high-profile offenders, including child sex killers Ronnie Graham and John Clifford. The facility underwent a significant expansion in 2012, with a £2 million extension that raised fears about the potential influx of dangerous sex offenders into the area.

Local residents, alarmed by the presence of such offenders near their children’s schools and community centers, staged protests outside Thompson House. They claimed to have reached a verbal agreement with the Presbyterian Church, which owns the complex, that no dangerous sex offenders would be accommodated there. However, recent events have cast doubt on the validity of this assurance, as it has emerged that Leo Hoad was living at the hostel during the summer months. His presence was confirmed until his arrest, which was made on suspicion of breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (Sopo).

A long-term resident of the Antrim Road area expressed their outrage, stating, “The demonstrations were called off after we were assured that no dangerous sex offenders would stay at Thompson House. People will be shocked that a child rapist like Leo Hoad was living at the hostel because it is surrounded by schools. The fact that he was arrested for breaching his release licence proves that he is still dangerous.”

Thompson House is equipped with 84 CCTV cameras, and strict monitoring protocols are in place. Sex offenders are confined to the premises during specific hours—until 9.30 am and between 2 pm and 4 pm—to minimize risk during school opening and closing times. Despite these measures, Hoad was taken into custody by police on July 18, after allegations surfaced that he had violated the terms of his Sopo.

Hoad, aged 38, appeared via video link at Belfast Magistrates’ Court last Thursday for an update on his case. The situation has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of current supervision regimes and the safety of communities living near such facilities.

A spokesperson for the Presbyterian Church explained that admissions to Thompson House are managed by the Probation Board, following comprehensive risk assessments. They emphasized that “the safety of the local community is paramount and part of the regime at Thompson House. That regime is based on the risk assessment and is robustly monitored by staff and by the designated risk manager, which is the advantage of having approved accommodation that is monitored, totally accountable and open to external inspection.”

Leo Hoad is considered one of Northern Ireland’s most dangerous paedophiles. He has admitted to committing 11 charges of rape and two counts of indecent assault against two children. His criminal history dates back to when he was just 13 years old, marking the beginning of an eight-year campaign of sexual abuse against victims aged just seven and eight. In 2012, Hoad was sentenced to seven years in prison, followed by three years of probation, and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Hoad’s recent arrest came only weeks after he had been living at Thompson House. His criminal record includes a notorious campaign of sexual violence that began in the early 1990s. In April 2012, he was jailed for seven years for his “campaign of rape,” which involved multiple assaults on young victims, including a girl aged between seven and nine years old. His first victim was attacked ten times between 1992 and 1993, and the second victim, who was between seven and nine years old, was raped and indecently assaulted during the same period.

Hoad’s case was further complicated by an online hate campaign against him, which emerged after charges of indecent assault against two 14-year-old girls were withdrawn. Hoad, from Beech Hill, Enniskillen, claimed innocence in an interview with the Impartial Reporter, asserting that many neighbors had joined the online campaign demanding his removal from Enniskillen. The police intervened to have the abusive and threatening posts removed from Facebook.

He later pleaded guilty to the charges before his trial, which was scheduled to begin last month. Judge Melody McReynolds at Dungannon Crown Court sentenced him to seven years in prison, with an additional three years on probation, and ordered him to complete a sex offenders’ program. Hoad will also be subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order and remains on the sex offenders’ register for life.

One of Hoad’s victims expressed relief and satisfaction with the outcome, stating outside the court, “I’m happy there has been a result and that justice has been done.” The case continues to evoke strong emotions and concerns about community safety and the management of sex offenders in Northern Ireland.