Sex offender 'was sleeping rough'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8271382.stm

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A convicted rapist from County Tyrone has been sleeping rough in the Republic of Ireland for months, a County Monaghan court has heard.

Ernest George Finlay, 54, of Aughnacloy in County Tyrone, admitted failing to notify the authorities of his movement from Northern Ireland to the Republic.

A detective told Carrickmacross Court Finlay said he had been living rough in County Monaghan since July.

Finlay, who has two convictions for rape, was remanded in custody.

He was jailed for raping a 17-year-old girl and committed a second rape on his release.

On another occasion he was returned to jail for breaching his release conditions.

He also has a number of convictions for other sex offences.

Finlay was arrested in the Cootehill area of County Cavan on Tuesday.

The detective told the court Finlay had been sought for some time in Northern Ireland after moving from Dungannon without notifying the authorities.

He is due to appear in court again next Wednesday.

Last November, police in Northern Ireland put out an appeal for help in tracing Finlay after he broke his prison release conditions.