MICHAEL FERRY: DONEGAL CHILD SEX OFFENDER FROM GWEEDORE AND DERRYBEG FREED FROM PRISON

In a development that has raised serious concerns about the oversight and management of convicted sex offenders, Michael Ferry, a known child sex abuser from Gweedore and Derrybeg, was released from Midlands Prison in County Laois this week. Ferry, aged 66, had served a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of heinous crimes committed over a span of years in Donegal, yet questions remain about how he was able to secure employment as a school caretaker despite his status on the sex offenders' register.

Ferry's criminal history is deeply troubling. In 2011, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to a series of sexual offenses involving young boys at an Irish language college in Gweedore, located in west Donegal. His guilty plea covered 38 charges, including 17 counts of oral and anal rape, 18 sex assaults, one indecent assault, and two charges related to the production of child pornography. These offenses took place between 1990 and 2005, revealing a pattern of predatory behavior that spanned over a decade.

During his time at the Irish language school, Ferry exploited his position to groom vulnerable boys for his own twisted gratification. Despite having a prior conviction in 2002 and being placed on the sex offenders' register, he continued to work in educational settings, raising questions about the effectiveness of monitoring and employment restrictions for convicted offenders. Ferry's recent release from Midlands Prison in Co. Laois was met with little explanation when he was asked how he managed to obtain a job at Ard Scoil Mhuire in Bunbeg, where he worked as a caretaker. His response was vague, claiming it was through