The House was told yesterday of how a woman who was the victim of a sexual assault was confronted by her attacker at the checkout of a supermarket.

Mr Charles Flanagan (FG, Laois-Offaly) said the offender had been convicted, sentenced and released and the woman had not been informed of his release. This was totally unsatisfactory and releases, particularly of sex offenders, should be halted until the victim is informed.

The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, said he regretted the incident very much and trusted that the new charter for the victims of crime would ensure no recurrences. He said there was provision, if requested by the victim of a sexual assault, whereby the Prisons Service would notify the Garda prior to the release of the perpetrator.