Replying to a question about serial sex offender Chico Makamda, Justice Minister Helen McEntee says that the deportation of serious criminals “is a complex matter.”
The comments were made following a parliamentary question by Independent TD Carol Nolan on a story broken by Gript.
Earlier this month, Gript revealed that a serial sex offender who was ordered to leave the country by the 27th of January was still in the country wandering free 2 months later.
GRIPT EXCLUSIVE: A sex offender who was ordered to leave Ireland by the 27th of January is still in the country 2 months later, Gript can reveal.#gripthttps://t.co/C6asGHvg7Y
— gript (@griptmedia) April 4, 2022
Chico Makamda, who is originally from Angola, has 15 prior convictions, and is guilty of physically assaulting multiple women, sexual assault, false imprisonment, exposing himself to teenage girls, masturbating in public, robbery and more.
Following the revelation that this person was still in the country, Carol Nolan’s office inquired for further details from Justice Minister Helen McEntee.
The parliamentary question asked the Minister “if she will address concerns that there is an ongoing failure to take adequate and appropriate steps to ensure the removal of convicted individuals who are also subject to a current deportation order from the State,” including a link to the Gript article.
“As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual cases,” replied the Minister.
“However, I can assure the Deputy that it is the policy to seek to deport from this State individuals whose presence here is not conducive to the common good.”
McEntee continued: “The deportation of such individuals is a complex matter requiring, amongst other things, the determination of the nationality and identity of the person and the cooperation of the proposed destination state in facilitating the deportation.”
She also blamed the Covid-19 pandemic for “difficulties” in deporting some individuals, with many destination states allegedly refusing to help with such matters.
“The relevant units within my Department continue to monitor the matter in conjunction with the Garda National Immigration Bureau,” she concluded.
McEntee previously declined to give any specific response on the case of Makamda once it was brought to her attention, simply stating:
“With regards to violence against women more generally, this Government has prioritised tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) in all its forms, and ensuring that people, particularly women and vulnerable people, feel safe and are safe in our communities.”