Dundrum man sent to prison for sexual abuse

Dundrum man sent to prison for sexual abuse

6 June 2012

A DUNDRUM man has been jailed for four years for sexually abusing two boys.

Jonathan Irvine (37), of Castle Heights, had denied the offences, but was found guilty by a jury and sentenced at Downpatrick Crown Court on Thursday.

At the trial, the victims described details of abuse, which they said happened in the defendant’s family home while they were being baby-sat by his sister in 1998.

One brother tearfully recalled the defendant lying on a bed in an upstairs bedroom of the house while Irvine sexually assaulted him.

“The next thing I recall is being downstairs at the front door and being handed two 20 pence pieces,” he said.

The defendant and members of his family denied the abuse in court and said he had hardly been in the house when his sister was baby-sitting.

Judge David Smyth QC, who lifted a reporting ban on identifying the defendant at Thursday’s sentencing, praised the victms for their bravery in coming forward.

“At times they were distressed and visibly shaking during the case,” he said. “I have no doubt of the consequences of the abuse.

“What they did in court requires courage, for which they deserve credit.”

Judge Smyth noted Irvine’s previous good character but said he lost credit in denying

the offences, which amounted to two charges of indecent assault on a male and inciting a child to commit an act of gross indecency.

He jailed him for four years, two of which he is to spend on licence.

Irvine was also ordered to sign a 10 year Sexual Offences Prevention Order and was banned from working with children.