DON'T JAIL SEX BEASTS; SOFT ON CRIMINALS Chaplains' report angers victim group.

Byline: By DARREN BOYLE, Crime Reporter

SEX offenders should receive treatment in the community and not in jail, a new report has claimed.

The Irish Prison Chaplains' Association yesterday slammed judges for sending those convicted of sex crimes to prison when only eight a year can get treatment inside.

They claim suitable candidates should be treated instead by specialist counsellors outside jail such as the private Granada Institute.

The report's authors said: "This complex issue will not be resolved by a single-one track response.

"Families of victims and perpetrators alike have been destroyed and will continue to be destroyed unless and until positive interventions are made."

The IPCA report, which was handed to Justice Minister Brian Lenihan, also hit out at the media for "demonising" sex criminals who had served their time.

But the Rape Crisis Network of Ireland hit back yesterday insisting that offenders should be banged up.

RCNI co-ordinator Cliona Saidlear said: "This offence is a serious crime and should be treated as such.

"When it comes to sentencing, it should not be a simple choice between jail or treatment."