Dozens of people gathered outside a courthouse in St. Catharines on Wednesday, where a man accused of sexually and physically assaulting a toddler from Welland was set to have a bail hearing.
The crowd included parents of another child who had been assaulted by the same man, and they are demanding changes in the criminal justice system.
With signs for judicial reform and petitions in hand, many protested at the St. Catharines courthouse Wednesday morning, ahead of the scheduled bail hearing for the man accused of brutally assaulting a 3-year-old in Welland last month.
One protester expressed, “because enough is enough. Children shouldn’t have to live in fear for their safety or well-being – we need new laws.”
“We’re just not being heard,” said another attendee. “I think it’s vital that our children are protected.”
25-year-old Daniel Senecal faces six charges, including aggravated assault and sexual interference with someone under 16, breaking and entering, choking, and assault.
Niagara police allege that Senecal broke into the home of the 3-year-old during the night in Welland.
These allegations have not yet been proven in court.
Senecal was supposed to appear at St. Catharines court on Wednesday, but his court date has now been postponed to November.
He is listed as a registered sex offender after being convicted last year for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy in 2021 and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.
He was released early and was still on probation when this alleged incident occurred.
WATCH MORE: Community rallies in St. Catharines following Welland child sexual assault
A petition was started by community members after these news reports surfaced, calling for more action from the criminal justice system.
“Change the legislation, adjust bail reform and keep sexual predators behind bars for their full sentences – they’re already too short,” stated Brad Ulch, who organized the petition.
So far, over 14,000 individuals have signed it, with hopes of reaching close to 30,000 by next week when Niagara South MP Fred Davies plans to present it in Parliament.
“In this particularly horrific case out of Welland, it’s clear we need to stop early releases for those convicted of crimes against children,” added Davies.
Additionally, some protesters were advocating for Ontario to make its sexual offender registry public.
This is something a survivor of childhood sexual abuse believes could have helped her situation.
“What happened to me involved a registered sex offender being allowed into my home,” said Lizz Emerson, an advocate for victims of sexual assault. “I didn’t know – I was just a kid. If adults around me had known how to protect me better maybe I could’ve avoided that trauma.”
This cause hits close to home for some individuals involved.
CHCH News spoke with the mother of one child assaulted by Senecal back in 2021. To protect her identity along with her family’s privacy CHCH News blurred her face and altered her voice during interviews.
“Honestly? I feel like we failed; our voices weren’t heard,” she shared.
She expressed shock upon learning that her child’s assailant would be released from prison early.
“He’s showing up again but he isn’t fully healed yet,” she explained. “Now with this traumatic experience happening again; I’m worried he’ll regress.”
She hopes that real changes will come about within the justice system so nothing like this ever happens again.
: p Welland mayor calls on province, feds for reform following child sexual assault
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CHCH News spoke with the mother of one child assaulted by Senecal back in 2021. To protect her identity along with her family’s privacy CHCH News blurred her face and altered her voice during interviews.
“Honestly? I feel like we failed; our voices weren’t heard,” she shared.
She expressed shock upon learning that her child’s assailant would be released from prison early.
“He’s showing up again but he isn’t fully healed yet,” she explained. “Now with this traumatic experience happening again; I’m worried he’ll regress.”
She hopes that real changes will come about within the justice system so nothing like this ever happens again.
: p Welland mayor calls on province, feds for reform following child sexual assault
Source link
