DUMPING GROUND; Parents protest against influx of sex offenders in their community.

Byline: BY TOM MCTAGUE

HUNDREDS of furious parents are planning a mass protest today against the number of sex offenders living on their estate.

One angry mum from Donegall Road, South Belfast, where the march will take place, said people were convinced their community was being used as a paedo dumping ground.

Noreen Fletcher, 47, blasted the Government for being more worried about the rapists' rights than their children's safety. She said: "It's absolutely awful, we are ready to explode here. There was a girl raped here at the weekend. Rapists, paedos have all been dumped here."

Noreen said they were marching because they had a right to know if dangerous sex-offenders were living near-by. Noreen's neighbour Brian Gibson was absolutely adamant his estate was being used to hide dangerous perverts.

Brian revealed his son had been approached by a man who was hiding in the bushes. Brian said: "He said to them, 'Would you like to play hide and seek in the bushes with me, I'll give you some sweets and money'. Brian warned that if the police do not start protecting the community then they would take it into their own hands.

He added: "If the police can't patrol the area then the men around here will."

Cllr Jim Kirkpatrick, representative of the area, said he understands the parents' anger.

He added: "I think a lot more information should be made available, it is their right."

A spokesman for the the new Public Protection Team for Northern Ireland rejected the accusations. He said: "There is no question of South Belfast or any other part of Northern Ireland being used as a dumping ground for sex offenders."