FAMILY MEMBERS of two young girls who were sexually abused almost seven years ago when they were both under 10 years of age, yesterday clapped in Derry Magistrate’s Court when the man who abused the children was jailed for five months.
However, Judge Mervyn Bates criticised the families’ reactions and described the clapping and the cheering as triumphalism. “This court must not be disturbed by this type of triumphalism,” the judge said.
The man (47), who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted last month of two charges of committing acts of gross indecency with the girls in December 2002. As well as the five-month jail sentence, he was placed on the sex offender’s register for seven years.
Eoghan Devlin, defending, told the court that his client, who still maintains his innocence, has been subjected to “a campaign of vilification and harassment since his conviction”.
The barrister handed the judge what he called “an odious document” which had been sent to his client.
Leave to appeal the sentence was granted and the defendant was released on his own bail of £1,000.