A convicted paedophile who committed horrific sexual assaults against his family's teenage babysitter has returned to his hometown, sparking outrage among locals.
Michael King, 55, a former car salesman from Boyle in County Roscommon, Ireland, has been spotted on the streets after serving a prison sentence for attacking his wife's goddaughter, Tara Kelly.
Ms Kelly, who bravely waived her right to anonymity, was only 16 years old when King preyed on her in 2004 and 2005. In May 2023, an Irish court sentenced King to six and a half years in prison, with the final year suspended.
The age of consent in the Republic of Ireland is 17.
Following his conviction, Ms Kelly urged other victims to come forward, saying: "I want other women with similar stories to come forward. I want them to know it's not their fault. These men will not be stopped otherwise."
According to The Irish Sun, King pleaded guilty to 12 charges and has been seen in Boyle on multiple occasions since his release. He was previously classified as having "no fixed abode" but has since provided local police, the gardai, with proof of an address where he is staying.
A local resident expressed dismay: "He is walking about without a care in the world and there is no remorse for that poor girl. Tara deserves tremendous credit for coming forward and encouraging other victims to speak out. King has no shame by the fact he has returned to Roscommon and people are horrified to see him back in the community. He caused so much damage but only spent a few years in prison."
King is one of 11 sex offenders released this month.
