ROBERT MELIA FROM BALLYMUN DUBLIN RELEASED: DANGEROUS SEX OFFENDER BACK ON THE STREETS

In a development that has raised serious concerns among local residents and law enforcement officials, Robert Melia, a man notorious for his extensive history of sexual offenses, has been released from prison and is now back on the streets of Dublin. Melia, who is in his 50s and originally from Ballymun, Dublin, was released on Wednesday morning and is expected to reside in the heart of Dublin City centre.

Melia's criminal record spans several decades, marked by multiple allegations of sexual assault and violent behavior. His past includes allegations of rape, with one incident where he reportedly threatened to dismember his victim during the assault. His history of offending has made him one of Ireland’s most feared and recognized sex offenders.

According to sources close to law enforcement, there is a palpable sense of alarm regarding Melia’s release. A source stated, “Melia is out on the streets and there are real fears that he will reoffend. This man is considered one of the country’s most dangerous sex offenders.” The authorities have mandated that Melia must report to the Gardaí within seven days of his release to provide his current address. It is understood that he will be living in a hostel located in the Dublin city centre.

To ensure public safety, Melia will be under close surveillance by Gardaí officers. Authorities have emphasized that if he breaches any of the conditions set upon his release, he will face immediate legal consequences. This monitoring is part of ongoing efforts to prevent any further harm and to keep the community safe.

Melia’s criminal history includes three convictions for violent sexual assaults committed over a single month in October 1997. Additionally, he was sentenced to six years in prison in July 1991 for a rape that occurred in 1987. His criminal record also features a 2015 conviction at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where he pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment, assault causing harm, and making threats to kill. These offenses took place at the Caulfields Hotel on Dorset Street Lower, Dublin, on May 19th, 2013.

One of Melia’s previous victims, Debbie Cole, has publicly expressed her fears that he might reoffend. She recounted her experience, saying, “Around this time last year my sister rang me and said the guy who had raped me was back up in court. He had tried to attack a woman in Caulfield’s Hotel in Dublin. She jumped out the hotel window to escape from him. Then it was in the papers, and the judge had referred to him as another Larry Murphy. I thought, ‘This is ridiculous.’ Every time he’s released from prison, within a short period, he’s attacking women again. We have to do something. There’s so many rights out there for the criminals, but where’s the rights for the victims? They don’t get a voice.”

During his sentencing in 2015, Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final three years of a ten-year sentence on the condition that Melia maintain good behavior for three years following his release. Despite this, concerns remain about his potential to reoffend. Melia’s criminal record also includes a one-year sentence for possessing stolen social welfare cheques at Cappagh Post Office in Finglas during January and February 2013, which contributed to his overall eight-year incarceration period.

Community members and advocacy groups continue to call for increased vigilance and protective measures to prevent further harm from Melia and individuals with similar histories. The case underscores ongoing debates about the management and monitoring of high-risk offenders after their release from incarceration.