Gangland rapist Stephen ‘Rossi’ Walsh faces being sent back to jail within days of release

The 78-year-old – one of Ireland’s most notorious criminals – will walk free from the Midlands Prison in a fortnight.

Walsh, a former member of Martin ‘The General’ Cahill’s gang, was released from the prison in November after he served almost 15 years for sexual attacks on two little girls.

But the paedophile was returned to the jail in late January after it emerged that he had been living rough and had failed to notify gardaí of his whereabouts.

Under the terms of the Sex Offenders Act, Walsh was legally obliged to notify authorities of any change of address and he has been in the Midlands Prison since being placed back in custody after appearing at Trim District Court.

A nationwide garda alert is now in place for Walsh’s release and he will be monitored by officers after his release.

“The prison authorities have no power in this matter as he will have served every day of the five-month sentence imposed on him earlier this year for breaching the act,” a source revealed.

“Once he is released, it will be for the gardaí to monitor him and to ensure he acts within the law,” the source added.

Under the legislation, Walsh is obliged to notify gardaí of his name, date of birth and home address within three days of his jail release.

Part of his release conditions means he’s on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Walsh was jailed for 10 years in February 2010 for raping Ruth Dunne when she was nine. He received another identical sentence the following year for sexually assaulting another child.

Ms Dunne bravely waived her right to anonymity to expose his horrific crimes.

Walsh cynically exploited his friendship with her family to gain access to her by pretending to take her to play with one of his daughters.

He targeted Ms Dunne on Dublin's Sandymount Beach and made the youngster play a depraved game called "guess the fruit and veg".

Following his trial, Mr Justice Paul Carney said the case was one of the "most repulsive" he had ever encountered. The judge told the court: "I find it revolting that Walsh planned the sex game by purchasing fruit and vegetables.

"I would also like to note the inherent gravity of the attacks."

The other victim was aged only 14 when she was targeted by the notorious paedophile.

During the trial the victim said she was first introduced to Walsh, a friend of her father’s, when she was in sixth class.

He became a regular visitor to her home and in July 2008, when she was 14, he moved in permanently. Within a month he tried to rape her, and just weeks later he succeeded in doing so.

During the sentencing, the then 18-year-old victim broke down as she described the appalling nature of the crimes committed against her when she was aged 14 and 15.

Walsh has a string of previous convictions including a lengthy prison sentence in relation to an arson case.

He was convicted twice for armed robbery in the 1970s, and was convicted of larceny and assault. He also ran protection rackets in the 1980s.

In September 1992 he was almost killed when an arson attempt on a pub in Ballybough, Dublin, went wrong and the building exploded while he was inside. He claimed he could not recall what happened. He said he could have been kidnapped and beaten and then put on the premises as part of a set-up .

Walsh, a married father of three, was sentenced to 15 years for the arson attack.

In February 1993 a judge claimed he was running a dial-a-witness scheme. Walsh was advising people how to set up false personal injuries claims and putting them in touch with people who would act as witness.

He was around the courts in Dublin, advising fellow criminals on their cases and people involved in personal injury cases.

While in jail he also provided “legal advice” to fellow inmates.

Two months ago it emerged that Walsh sent a letter to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris demanding officers be sent into the Midlands Prison to probe what he has described as his ‘unlawful’ detention there.

Walsh said he had to post a letter to “file a criminal complaint by writing to the office of the Garda Commissioner for assistance in gaining access to a garda member or members by way of a professional visit at the Midlands Prison so that I can file a criminal complaint.”

He also took a habeas corpus’ proceedings in the High Court aimed at having his renewed period of detention declared illegal amid claims that he is a ‘financially unsound’ person.

According to court records, his application to have his incarceration declared unlawful by the High Court was refused on April 11.