THE trialling in England of new legislation allowing parents to be informed of sex offenders within their locality has been welcomed by the family of Castlederg teenager Arlene Arkinson.

Arlene's older sister Kathleen Arkinson said the law would go a long way to preventing families going through the heartache her family have endured. Arlene, who would have celebrated her 28th birthday in a few weeks, has been missing for almost 13 years.

Kathleen said the ordeal still "seemed like yesterday" and that the laws should introduced in both the North and the Republic.

Arlene disappeared after a night out at a disco in Bundoran in August 1994. Robert Howard, also from Castlederg was acquitted on her murder in 2005. During the trial a publicity ban was placed on his criminal record dating back 40 years as a convicted killer, child abuser and rapist. He is currently serving a life sentence for the rape and murder of 15-year-old London schoolgirl Hannah Williams.

The new laws would allow parents to find out if sex offenders live in their street, on school routes or near their playground. Although parents won't be told of specific names or addresses, they will be able to find out how many offenders live in the area. Single mothers will also be able to find out if a new partner is on the sex offenders' register.

Kathleen welcomed the news. "if this type of legislation had been in place Arlene might still have been here today. It could now save some other mother or father or sister or brother from going through what we did."

She said of Howard, "Every person needs to be protected from people like that. No-ione knew a thing about Howard's past, and he was strutting about like an ordinary person."