Sex offender admits breaching court order

A SEX offender living in the Ballygawley area, breached terms of a strict monitoring order than was imposed by the courts.

Istvan Kiss (35) a Hungarian national, residing at Armaghlughey Road admitted failing to make an annual report to police and failing to notify police that he was travelling to his homeland.

At Dungannon Magistrates Court he received a conditional discharge for 12 months for each offence. District Judge Michael Ranaghan said the breaches were of a ‘technical’ nature although he emphasised that the courts take breaches of such orders very seriously.

On October 18, Kiss failed without reasonable excuse to make an annual re-notification to police as required, which included his name, home address and date of birth. At around the same time he travelled to Hungary without telling police, as required.

When police attempted to contact him, his sister told them he had gone to Hungary.

Defence barrister Fintan McAleer said his client was subject to police bail and had to sign every two days at a PSNI station during which time he could have made the annual registration at any time.

He added that Kiss had his passport returned and went to his home country for two weeks. Mr McAleer stated when he was away, his sister engaged with police on his behalf with texts to say where he was.

Imposing the conditional discharge, Judge Ranaghan said, “I am prepared to treat this as a technical breach. He will now be aware of the requirements and ignorance will not be an excuse. For the attention of the press, this in no way lessens the importance of notifications.”