Key Takeaways:
- Dominic Noonan, a notorious gangland figure, has been recalled to prison for breaching the terms of his early release.
- Noonan had been subject to 65 conditions as part of his release from jail licence, including a ban from Chorlton in south Manchester.
- He claimed the conditions were too restrictive and prevented him from visiting his parents’ grave at Southern Cemetery.
- Noonan had been released from prison in October after serving 40% of his sentence, as part of a scheme introduced by the Labour government to ease overcrowding in jails.
- He has a history of serious sex offences, including 13 historical sex offences against four boys as young as 10.
Introduction to Dominic Noonan’s Case
Dominic Noonan, a notorious gangland figure, has been recalled to prison for breaching the terms of his early release. Noonan, who was released from prison in October, had been subject to 65 conditions as part of his release from jail licence. However, he claimed that these conditions were too restrictive and prevented him from visiting his parents’ grave at Southern Cemetery in Chorlton, south Manchester. In an act of protest, Noonan deliberately breached his licence conditions, presenting himself to a police station in Yorkshire to be arrested.
Background on Noonan’s Release
Noonan was released from prison after serving 40% of his sentence, as part of a scheme introduced by the Labour government to ease overcrowding in jails. The scheme, which was introduced in September last year, allows eligible prisoners to be released after serving 40% of their fixed-term sentence, rather than the usual 50%. Noonan had been serving a sentence for serious sex offences, including 13 historical sex offences against four boys as young as 10. He was convicted of these offences in 2018 and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Noonan’s History of Offences
Noonan has a long history of serious offences, including sex offences, arson, blackmail, and perverting the course of justice. In 2018, he was convicted of 13 historical sex offences against four boys as young as 10. The prosecution alleged that Noonan had "groomed and sexually assaulted" young boys over several decades, plying them with drink and drugs. Noonan denied the charges, but was found guilty by a jury at Manchester Crown Court. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison, with the judge describing him as a "very dangerous man".
Noonan’s Notorious Past
Noonan has been involved in several high-profile incidents throughout his life. In the 1990s, he was abducted from a prison van at traffic lights in Pendleton, Salford, but the incident was later revealed to be a ruse to spring him from custody. In 2014, he climbed the Big Wheel in Piccadilly Gardens in a protest against Greater Manchester Police (GMP). He spent six hours perched 100ft up, bringing a large part of the city centre to a standstill. Noonan has also been involved in other incidents, including a "road rage" incident with a woman in Gorton, and was suspected of orchestrating riots in Manchester city centre in 2011.
Noonan’s Current Situation
Noonan’s recall to prison is a result of his deliberate breach of his licence conditions. He had been subject to strict conditions, including a ban from Chorlton in south Manchester, which he claimed prevented him from visiting his parents’ grave. Noonan had also been offered jobs, but was told by the Probation Service that they were unsuitable. He was not allowed to use the internet or have more than £200 in his possession. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said that the case shows that offenders who break the rules will be sent back to prison. Noonan’s recall to prison is a reminder that those who breach their licence conditions will face consequences.