Fugitive sex offender, originally from North, arrested in Cavan

A high-risk sex offender who was on the run from UK authorities has been arrested by gardai beside a children’s swimming area.
A major hunt was launched to capture William John Paden because he posed a “significant risk” of reoffending.
56-year-old William John Paden (Pay-den) absconded from his address in Blackpool last month, despite being wanted by police for recall to prison for breaching his release terms.
A search was launched after reported sightings emerged in the Northern Ireland, where he was originally from, and in Co Donegal.
He was arrested yesterday after a local spotted him near a popular swimming area in Ballyhaise, Co Cavan.
He contacted local gardai, who swooped and caught the sex offender lounging in the grass beside the river.
Garda sources said, that Paden was lying in the grass and he had a hat over his head, adding that he was arrested at 4pm.
Gardai reassured parents that Paden did not make any attempt to speak to children or “do anything untoward”.
He’s expected to appear in court today because he has breached the terms of his prison release. As a registered sex offender he is required under European law to register in whatever country he travels to within seven days.
He did not register in Ireland. It is also likely that the Lancashire police will seek his extradition.