Castlewellan man who abused boys in court

Castlewellan man who abused boys in court

20 August 2014

A CASTLEWELLAN man has escaped prison after admitting the sexual assault of two young boys over 30 years ago.

Fifty eight year-old James McEvoy received a 12 month suspended prison sentence for the indecent assault of the 12 year-old boys in the mid 1980s.

Downpatrick Crown Court heard on Monday that one of the victims came forward due to the publicity surrounding the case against Jimmy Saville while the other revealed he had also been assaulted when he was questioned by police about being a witness.

Crown prosecutor Laura Ivers explained the offences were committed between 1984 and 1986 when McEvoy, who was working as a ranger for the Forestry Commission, was aged around 30.

Mrs. Ivers said at the time one of the victims “looked up to” McEvoy due to his position as a member of the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team.

On the first occasion, McEvoy took the youngster out in his 4X4 to go rock climbing in the summer holidays. She said that a short distance along a mountain track, McEvoy started to “play fight” with the boy, during which he groped him between the legs over his clothing.

This, she said, left the youngster “confused about the situation.”

Mrs. Ivers said the second incident occurred during the same summer break, when McEvoy took the youngster and a friend for a walk in the foothills. McEvoy began play fighting with the boys, and he again touched the same boy’s genitals over his clothing as the youngster lay on the ground.

The prosecutor said the victim only reported the matter to police in 2012, following the publicity connected to TV presenter Jimmy Saville.

She said when police spoke to the victim’s friend as a possible witness, he too said he had been abused by McEvoy in Tollymore, when he touched his genitals over his clothing whilst wrestling in a play fight.

The court heard this victim told McEvoy to stop, and while he never disclosed what had happened, he “avoided being alone with the defendant thereafter.”

When he was interviewed by police, McEvoy, of Broomfield Close, initially denied the charges but subsequently admitted three counts of indecent assault.

Defence counsel, Eugene Grant QC, spoke of McEvoy’s many years of service as a volunteer with the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team, adding that in his 30 years service, McEvoy was “involved in many successful missions.”

The barrister also spoke of McEvoy’s work record, which included being employed as a ranger in the Mourne Mountains, as well as working for the Mourne Heritage Trust.

Branding the criminality as “two isolated incidents” which occurred 30 years ago, Mr. Grant also spoke of McEvoy’s clear criminal record. He said McEvoy has suffered a “catastrophic dent” in his reputation.

Passing sentence, Judge Geoffrey Miller QC said McEvoy’s pleas spared his two victims the trauma of giving evidence.

The judge said it was apparent the incident has had a lasting effect on one of the victims, which has resulted in “a lack of self-confidence and self-worth in his life.”

Judge Miller also spoke of McEvoy’s position as a forestry official at the time, saying there was “undoubtedly” a breach of trust.

He also acknowledged McEvoy’s “worthwhile” employment history, and noted McEvoy “carried out very important voluntary work over a considerable number of years” with the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team.

Handing McEvoy a 12-month sentence, which was suspended for two years, Judge Miller made McEvoy the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years. One of the terms of the Order bans him from working with children or vulnerable adults.