A high risk sex offender who abused a 12-year-old boy was homed near Auckland schools after his release from prison.
In 2005, Anaru O'Reilly was jailed for indecent assault. Once he completed his sentence he was homed in Epsom Lodge on Margot Street between late 2016 and May 2017, NZME reports.
The lodge, run by the Salvation Army, is just a block away from Epsom Girls Grammar, Diocesan School for Girls and Dilworth School.
The decision to place him there was made by local Corrections staff. He was placed there because he was homeless and there were no other options available at the time, Corrections told NZME.
O'Reilly was on extended supervision order at the time. He left the home after he breached conditions of his supervision order.
"Ensuring that offenders have stable accommodation keeps the community safe," Operations director Lynette Cave told NZME.
"Being homeless increases an offender's likelihood of committing crime."
The lodge has now been deemed unsuitable for housing child sex offenders. There are no sex offenders currently living there.
Newshub.
