Child sex abuse man avoids prison

Child sex abuse man avoids prison

23 November 2016

A CROSSGAR man has received a suspended prison sentence for sexually abusing a child almost 40 years ago.

Fifty three year-old decorator Martin McGreevy received the sentence when he appeared at Downpatrick Crown Court, sitting in Newtownards, on Friday and admitted three charges of indecent assault and gross indecency between March 13, 1977, and December 31, 1978.

McGreevy was detained by police after his victim reported the assaults which took place when he was aged between seven and nine years old.

After Friday’s sentencing the victim said he was glad he had persevered with the case but said he does not believe McGreevy is sorry for what he did.

Prosecuting barrister, Laura Ievers told the court the victim was subjected to repeated bouts of abuse when he was forced to touch McGreevy inappropriately or perform sex acts on him.

Ms Ievers said before going to police the victim confronted McGreevy about the incidents and he confessed to what had happened but made excuses that he was struggling to deal with his own confused sexuality. McGreevy later sent a text to his victim saying he was a “stupid child” at the time.

During his sentencing remarks, Judge Piers Grant said he accepted there had been “expressions of remorse,” and said amongst the 

reports written about McGreevy, who committed the abuse when he was a teenager, he had at the time “real confusion and uncertainty over his sexuality.”

He described the offences as “being at the lower end of the scale for this sort of case.” 

The judge said however there was “no doubt that these incidents harmed the injured party — no young child should be exposed to that sort of conduct.”

“It’s clear that there were other matters which affected the injured party’s well being and it’s not possible to isolate the harm caused by these incidents,” said Judge Grant. 

Because McGreevy, of Manse Road, Raffrey was assessed as not posing a risk of further offences and because of his age at the time, Judge Grant did not make him sign the police sex offenders register. Nor did he impose a Sexual Offences Prevention Order and did not bar him from working with children. 

“This was over a comparatively short period of time and could not be said to have been contrived or planned in any way,” said the judge adding that by investigating his own sexuality by abusing the boy, “he was prioritising his own sexual desire over the needs of his victim.”

Speaking after the hearing, the victim of McGreevy’s attacks said he was innocent and naive at the time.

“I trusted his every word completely so I just assumed this was normal behaviour but as I grew older however, I subsequently realised the gravity of the offences he had inflicted upon on me,” he said.

“I contemplated suicide at various times throughout my adult life as I struggled to come to terms with the painful consequences of what had happened to me, battling severe depression as a direct result of his perverted actions.”

The victim also urged anyone who has been subjected to any type of abuse to come forward.

He said when he first went to the PSNI the investigating officer wanted to give McGreevy a formal caution telling the victim that it was “probably the best I could hope for.”

“I’m glad I kept persevering and didn’t accept her proposed sentence which amounted to nothing more than a slap on the wrist,” he said

“Despite my frustrations in the police and legal authorities, I would still strongly urge anyone who has been subjected to any type of abuse, be it in a sexual or psychological context, to go forward to them and do not suffer alone in silence for the perverted actions of a sexual predator.

“The process is slow and complex but persevere as the authorities are now beginning to help victims, especially since Jimmy Saville’s hidden child abuse came to light and there is a positive transition coming.”

He said he is “frustrated” that McGreevy was not sent to jail but is grateful to the numerous people who supported him throughout the legal process.

“I would like to sincerely thank my counsellor Bronagh at Nexus NI for her kindness and compassion she gave me throughout the whole process.”