The parents of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne today accused English politicians of ignoring their campaign for changes in the laws governing paedophiles.
Sara and Michael Payne were at the Northern Assembly in Belfast today to sign a petition calling for the introduction of "Sarah's Law" in the North.
The couple, whose daughter (8) was abducted and killed by convicted paedophile Roy Whiting in July 2000, were welcomed by all the political parties.
They said that despite obtaining a million signatures in Britain, the government has resisted calls for parents to be given controlled access to the paedophile register.
"It's really nice to find here politicians coming to meet us to support us. it's quite a turnaround for us to what we are used to," said Mrs Payne. Mr Payne said: "We are used to fighting with politicians to get them to listen. They are not willing to listen in England".
Since Sarah's death, Mr and Mrs Payne have been fighting for a Britain version of the US Megan's Law, which gives parents the right to know if a convicted paedophile is in their midst.
A motion has been tabled for debate at the Assembly calling on the Home Secretary to introduce changes to the law.
Mr Edwin Poots of the Democratic Unionist Party, who tabled the motion, said he believed the law would be changed in the North when criminal justice issues were devolved after the next election.
Whiting (41), a mechanic from Littlehampton, was found guilty of Sarah’s kidnap and murder in December 2001 and sentenced to life imprisonment. After the verdict, it was revealed he had a conviction for the kidnap and indecent assault of a nine-year-old girl in 1995.
PA