In early 2019, the Offender Database confirmed that a husband and wife from Newtownabbey, County Antrim, were jailed at Belfast Crown Court for what a judge described as a “shocking breach of trust.” The couple, who cannot be named to protect the identities of the victims, presided over a household with a “darker secret” that contrasted with their outwardly respectable appearance at school and church. The then 62-year-old father was convicted of a campaign of physical cruelty against his two sons, while his then 59-year-old wife was jailed for repeatedly sexually assaulting one of her stepsons.
The court heard that the father exercised control over his children with “brutal force” between 1984 and 1996, using fists, a cane, and a leather belt—frequently striking their bare flesh with the buckle. On one occasion, he punched his son repeatedly over forgotten geography homework, and on another, he slapped a boy so hard at the top of the stairs that he fell to the bottom and struck his head. Judge David McFarland noted that the man’s health had significantly declined following a serious road collision three years prior, which resulted in his 18-month sentence being reduced to 12 months.
The stepmother’s offending was described as “more subtle” but equally damaging, occurring between 1991 and 1995. She groomed one of the boys by encouraging him to enter the marital bed on Saturday mornings while his father was at work, where she subjected him to prolonged sexual abuse. The judge emphasised the “long-term consequences” of her actions, which followed her victim into adulthood. She was sentenced to 18 months in prison, to be followed by two years of probation upon her release.
As a result of her convictions for indecent assault, the woman was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and was permanently banned from working with children. Both defendants were criticised for showing no remorse throughout the two-week trial, despite the clear evidence presented by the victims. Following their custodial terms, the couple will be managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Probation Board to monitor their residency and ensure the ongoing safety of the public in the Newtownabbey and wider County Antrim area.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.