Caught in Dublin

An on-the-run Scottish paedophile was arrested today in Dublin.




Fraser Benjamin McLaughlin, of Hamilton in South Lanarkshire, was detained in Dublin after a member of the public tipped off detectives.



The child sex offender was spotted in the city after someone recognised him from a mugshot on an online most-wanted list.



The 57-year-old's details had been posted on the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (Ceop) website last Friday.



McLaughlin was last seen boarding a ferry for the North earlier this year and had been on the run for several months.



Jim Gamble, Ceop Centre chief executive, said: "Once again we prove that the public are willing and able to help locate convicted missing child sex offenders," he said.



"If McLaughlin thought he could hide then he is tonight learning a lesson. My message to other convicted offenders who think they can also go missing is to look at this story and give themselves up as they too may find their details posted on our site."



McLaughlin, who was missing for several months, could face up to five years in jail for disappearing and failing to notify authorities of his whereabouts. He was required to keep police up-to-date with his movements under the Sexual Offenders Register notification requirements.



He was also wanted for failing to answer bail over previous child abuse image offences.



Detective Inspector David Tassie of Strathclyde Police said: "I am delighted that we now have a result."



McLaughlin is the 19th sex offender to be arrested after details were posted on the Ceop most wanted list since the site was launched in 2006. He is the second Scottish offender to be posted on the site.



So far, details of 21 criminals have been published.



In June, child abuser William Paden, who police warned posed a significant risk, was detained in the Irish Republic.



The 56-year-old, with a registered address in Blackpool, Lancashire, was arrested in the town of Ballyhaise, Co Cavan yesterday after a resident recognised him from Garda alerts.



McLaughlin was arrested in Dublin city centre, a Garda spokesman confirmed.



He later appeared briefly in court and was remanded in custody for one week.