Hundreds rally at courthouse to denounce sex offender accused of molesting toddler

Hundreds gathered outside the Robert S.K. Welch St. Catharines Courthouse ahead of child predator Daniel Senecal’s latest court appearance.

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Hundreds gathered outside the Robert S.K. Welch St. Catharines Courthouse ahead of child predator Daniel Senecal’s latest court appearance.

The crowd gathered in St. Catharines, Ont., to protest in the wake of a summer crime wave and recent police reports detailing the arrest of a man accused of violently sexually assaulting a toddler.

The crowd chanted “pedo scum,” referring to Senecal’s documented history of repeat sexual assault offences—some reportedly against children—and “give him to us,” in an apparent call for immediate citizen-led justice.

There were additionally many signs in attendance. Several read “protect kids,” while even more read “jail, not bail.”

Contrary to numerous social media reports, however, Senecal’s Wednesday court appearance was not a formal bail hearing. It was an in-custody video remand appearance from a remote location.

True North attended the proceeding and can confirm Senecal remains in custody and is expected to make his next video appearance in the same courthouse on October 15.

Senecal’s exact custody arrangement remains uncertain, however.

Remote in-custody appearances rotate between multiple locations, and Senecal appeared off-screen, making it difficult to ascertain where he is being housed currently.

It has been widely speculated that Senecal is seeking pre-trial detention in a women’s remand facility, as a social media profile matching his name and location shows a preference for “she/her” pronouns.

However, during his Wednesday court appearance, both judge and counsel referred to the accused as “sir” and “Mr. Senecal” without correction from the accused.

Despite attempts by journalists to determine whether Senecal’s suspected desire to be housed in a female detention centre has been accommodated, questions on the matter have been dismissed by authorities and, as such, his precise custody location and circumstances remain unclear.

A group of protestors later convened at Niagara detention centre, where they believe Senecal is currently being held.

Senecal is a registered sex offender.

He was previously found guilty of sexual assault four years ago and ordered to comply with the Sex Offender Information Registration Act as one of the conditions for release.

The details of that case are also subject to a publication ban for the purpose of protecting the victim’s identity.

In December 2023, Senecal was again found guilty of sexual assault.

Despite the numerous and repeated sexual assault offences, Senecal was released again in March 2024 with conditions, which included an order to comply with the Sex Offender Information Registration Act for 20 years.

He now additionally stands accused of breaking into a home and engaging in a violent sexual assault that sent a child under the age of five to an out-of-region hospital.

Welland Mayor Frank Campion addressed the crowd outside of the St. Catharines Courthouse ahead of Senecal’s latest court appearance.

He thanked the large group of onlookers for coming to his “community.”

“When I’m talking about community, I’m talking about human beings who stand up for people who are unable to stand up for themselves and people that need protection,” he said, before encouraging the crowd to give themselves a round of applause.