JAMES BRENNAN FROM CO DONEGAL AND PETERLEE FACES INDEFINITE JAIL IN IRELAND AFTER UK SENTENCE

In August 2013, a significant legal development unfolded involving James Brennan, a man originally from Co Donegal and Peterlee, who is currently serving a lengthy and indefinite prison sentence in the United Kingdom for serious sexual offenses. Brennan, aged 55, is known for his past as a former owner of a lap-dance club and gained notoriety as one of the first sex offenders in Britain to be convicted for internet-based child grooming activities.

He hails from Manorcunningham in County Donegal, Ireland, and is currently serving a sentence of imprisonment for public protection (IPP). This type of sentence, which is not available in Ireland, mandates that Brennan serve a minimum period before he can be considered for release by the Parole Board. However, the nature of his crimes and the severity of his perceived danger mean that he faces the possibility of remaining incarcerated for many years, if not for life.

There has been ongoing debate and concern regarding Brennan’s desire to serve his sentence in Ireland. In a letter obtained by the Irish Independent, Brennan argued that as a foreign national in the UK, he should be granted the same rights as other foreign nationals, including the possibility of serving his sentence in Ireland. This plea comes amid broader discussions about the legal differences between the UK and Ireland concerning certain types of sentences. The UK government abolished IPPs last year following a successful challenge in the European Court of Human Rights, but those already imposed remain in effect, and no retrospective changes are being made.

In Ireland, the legal system has also grappled with similar issues. For instance, last year, the High Court in Dublin refused to extradite Gavin Nolan, an Irish national wanted in connection with alleged attempted rape and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in the UK. Nolan, who fled the UK and was later arrested in Ireland, faced the possibility of an indeterminate IPP sentence in Britain, which influenced the Irish court’s decision not to surrender him.

Back in December 2010, Brennan was sentenced to an indefinite term after a series of disturbing offenses. He was convicted of establishing an online modeling agency with the intent to meet and abuse young girls. His initial four-year sentence was later appealed and overturned by the Court of Appeal, which imposed an indefinite sentence for public protection. This decision was influenced by the Attorney General, Dominic Grieve QC, who argued that Brennan was an undeniable danger to children.

During the appeal, Lord Justice Moses emphasized Brennan’s high risk to young girls, citing his recent release from prison for a previous sexual grooming offense. Brennan had set up the Model Seekers website, which he used to contact minors. After an unsuccessful attempt to meet a 13-year-old girl in person, he managed to persuade another girl to meet him in a Durham hotel room. There, he offered her alcohol and attempted to molest her, but she managed to escape. Despite this, Brennan continued to contact her and later met her again in May of the following year, where he again used alcohol to facilitate prolonged abuse in a car.

The court heard that Brennan’s actions demonstrated a persistent pattern of sexual offending and a high likelihood of reoffending. The judges concluded that only an indeterminate sentence could adequately protect the public from his dangerous behavior. Brennan was ordered to serve at least four years before he could apply for parole, with release only granted if he was deemed safe.

Det Sgt Graeme Chisholm of Durham Constabulary described Brennan as a “highly dangerous individual,” underscoring the seriousness of his crimes and the court’s decision to impose such a severe sentence. The case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by legal systems in managing offenders who pose significant risks to society, especially those with a history of sexual offenses involving minors.