JOHN O’SULLIVAN'S SHOCKING ESCAPE FROM JUSTICE IN ALVA SPARKS OUTRAGE OVER HOLIDAY TAG REMOVAL

In a case that has ignited widespread outrage, John O’Sullivan, a 67-year-old man from Alva, has become the focus of intense criticism after his recent actions seemingly undermined the justice system’s efforts to hold him accountable for a serious crime. O’Sullivan was convicted in July of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl, a crime that has left the victim and her family devastated.

Following his conviction, O’Sullivan was subjected to a restriction of liberty order in August, which mandated that he remain within his home during specified hours, and he was fitted with an electronic monitoring tag to ensure compliance. This measure was intended to serve as a form of supervision and punishment, reflecting the severity of his offense.

However, last month, O’Sullivan submitted an application to Alloa Sheriff Court requesting the removal of his electronic tag for a period of 14 days. His aim was to be able to travel freely to Spain, specifically to Tenerife, for a holiday. The application was granted by Sheriff James MacDonald, who approved the request despite the ongoing restrictions. It is understood that O’Sullivan, along with his wife Elizabeth, aged 57, returned from their holiday in Tenerife last week, raising questions about the oversight and decision-making involved in his case.

In the aftermath of this development, the mother of the victim expressed her profound distress and anger. She chose to remain anonymous to protect her daughter’s identity but spoke openly about the emotional toll her family has endured. She stated, “This should never have been allowed. It is totally wrong. My daughter has really been affected by what happened to her. She won’t go out the house by herself. She has to walk around with her personal alarm to make herself feel safer. She is constantly on edge and she’s scared she might bump into him again.”

O’Sullivan’s criminal history includes targeting the young girl between June and August of the previous year, during which he placed his hand on her thigh and repeatedly rubbed it. Additionally, in September, he made a sexually explicit comment to her, further exacerbating her trauma. Despite being fitted with an electronic tag and serving an 18-month community payback order, as well as being registered as a sex offender for five years, critics argue that his recent actions undermine the justice system’s authority.

The mother of the victim voiced her frustration, saying, “He was given this restriction order as a punishment. To then learn he just had it lifted so he could go on holiday for two weeks makes a mockery of the justice system. He walks around with his head held high, bragging in the pub about how he got his tag off, while my daughter is not the same. It’s ridiculous.”

Support for the family poured in from political figures, with Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr condemning the decision. Kerr remarked, “As if the sentence handed down wasn’t lenient enough, this ridiculous decision will cause even more misery for the victim and their family. It’s no wonder criminals laugh at our justice system when things like this happen. We should be getting tougher on sex offenders, not granting them sunshine breaks from their tagging orders.”