Speaking after a Strabane DPP meeting on Wednesday evening, Colr McMenamin said: "It's a fact that in America people can go on a website and find out if any registered sex offenders live in their area. It's called Megan's Law but, unfortunately, the law was unsuccessful when they tried to get it passed in the UK."

Under Megan's Law, commonly included information includes the sex offender's name, picture, address and the nature of the crime. The information is often displayed on websites and can be published in newspapers.

Mr. McMenamin believes that giving sex offenders any degree of anonymity is "totally wrong".

He said: "It is totally wrong that these people can be given anonymity if they have been convicted. In a lot of cases, nobody knows who these people are until they have attacked someone. We only catch a glimpse of their faces if a photographer manages to sneak a photo as they are going in or out of court. There is no way they should ever be located near young families, schools or children"

Mr. McMenamin acknowledged, however, that there are risks involved with denying offenders anonymity.

He said: "The last thing we need is a lynch mob turning up at an address looking for a convicted sex offender. People cannot take the law into their own hands, but they do have a right to know if there is a dangerous individual living in their area."

Mr. McMenamin mentioned the current search in England for 9 years old schoolgirl Shannon Matthews.

He said: "Look at the situation in Dewsbury with that missing girl. It was mentioned at the DPP meeting, the danger of people driving round trying to pick up children and it can be dismissed all too easily. It has been reported in Strabane and Derry recently.

"That's why I'm all for tagging. We should know where these characters are 24/7.People mention 'human rights' when arguing against tagging, but what human rights does a victim who is being molested or raped have? None whatsoever," he concluded.