GARDAI were this week hunting for one of Britain's most wanted paedophiles after reports that he was spotted at various locations in the county.
Alexander Colin Dalgleish is among five men who have disappeared after failing to register with police or probation officers. Failing to notify authorities of their whereabouts is an arrestable offence in Britain punishable by up to five years in prison.
Dalgleish, known in Donegal as 'Paul Williams' is aged 30-35, known as a DJ called Hi Energy and about 5ft 6in tall. He was also known in the Bundoran and Donegal Town areas as a DJ called 'Small Paul'. There are also unconfirmed reports that he was also seen in the Letterkenny area.
Speaking to the Donegal News one senior garda source said they had reports of the man being in the south Donegal area.
"We've circulated his details to all garda stations. We would be very worried that he would get involved in similiar crimes in our jurisdiction," the garda source said.
It is believed he disappeared about two months ago after the newly formed Child Exploitation and On-Line Protection Centre (CEOP) in Britain was preparing an Internet campaign to track down paedophiles who have absconded.
The Crimestoppers Most Wanted website now features absconded paedophiles. The former entertainments manager at a North Wales caravan site was jailed for nine months in 2001 for having sex with one 13-year-old girl and indecently assaulting another. He and four others are wanted in Britain for failing to register their whereabouts under Britain's Sexual Offenders Act 2003. Sex offenders who travel here do not have to register with the Irish authorities.
Fears for the safety of children were heightened after two young girls, aged four and six, were sexually assaulted in a Swords, Co Dublin housing estate at the weekend. Gardai last night continued their hunt for the attacker.
Details of the hidden past of convicted paedophile Alexander Colin Dalgleish emerged when his picture and name were splashed across the British media in reports about the launch of a new international child protection website.
Children Minister Brian Lenihan denied Ireland has become a "soft touch" for sex offenders from other jurisdictions.
A spokesperson said there is a "very substantial flow" of information between the gardai and police forces in the North and UK. It is believed that Dalgleish arrived in Donegal about two years ago. He worked at the Railway Heritage Centre, a railway museum in Donegal Town.
Ann Temple worked alongside him and said while she was shocked to learn of his past she was not surprised.
"I always had my suspicions about him. He used to phone and send despicable messages late at night but would hide his own number. He was always hassling young girls and in the end we had to let him go. That was last year but he stayed around the town until two months ago," she said.
