Strong call for paedophile ban

An overwhelming 93 per cent of respondents to an online poll by The Times think the law should bar convicted paedophiles from working in places frequented by children and five per cent say this should be at the discretion of experts.

Just two per cent see nothing wrong in allowing convicted paedophiles to work with children.

The Times launched the online poll after it turned out that the Malta Football Association had kept a 79-year-old man employed at Pace Grasso Ground, in Paola, until recently when it knew that at the beginning of this year he was given a two-year jail term suspended for four years for defiling a 13-year-old boy. Children of a nearby state school were using the ground for recreation.

Despite weeks of pressure from the CEO of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, Joe Gerada, the MFA accused him of undertaking a "cheap propaganda campaign" against it.

The association also barred the school children's access to the ground and said it would leave it to the public to conclude whether "in a long life, if someone is found guilty only once of corrupting a minor, one should be labelled a paedophile".

Yet, most respondents to the poll were categorical that paedophiles should be kept away from children as a naked flame is kept far from a can of petrol.

"Convicted paedophiles should be listed in a register open to the general public. Their employment should be closely monitored by a responsible agency and not only should they not be allowed to work in an environment frequented by children, but they should also be prohibited from even approaching schools, youth clubs and football nurseries," a respondent wrote.

A frequent comment was that the authorities should adopt a name-and-shame policy. One went as far as to say that paedophiles should be branded with a tattoo on their neck.

A few respondents pointed to the lenient court sentences handed down by the courts to paedophiles. Another said convicted paedophiles are sick and should be treated.

According to one comment, the crime is more serious if committed by an adult given responsibility for taking care of children.

Referring to the recent case brought to light by Mr Gerada, a respondent said: "The MFA should be ashamed of itself for treating children this way. Again, shame on them for their vindictiveness in making the children pay for this scandal made public by Appogg. Is this the way the spineless MFA tackles paedophiles working for it?"