Man who sexually abused two children jailed

TWO women who were sexually molested as children have welcomed a 12-year sentence handed to their abuser saying "we've finally got our justice."

Francis McDonnell was jailed for what Judge Geoffrey Miller QC described as a "very serious case of pre-meditated abuse of young children, sustained over a period of several years".

The 63-year old, who is originally from north Belfast and with an address of Ardowen in Craigavon, faced two trials last year and was convicted by a jury of offences against both complainants.

As the grandfather-of-16 was being led into custody from the dock of Downpatrick Crown Court in handcuffs, he turned to both his victims and said "you may hope I die in jail".

Before handing McDonnell the sentence, which will be divided between six years behind bars followed by six years on licence, Judge Miller said that despite being convicted by a jury following two trials, he continues to maintain his innocence.

McDonnell targeted and sexually abused both complainants in the Ardoyne area of Belfast in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Although both women want to remain anonymous, they wanted McDonnell to be named for the first time and the public made aware of the crimes he committed against them as children.

One of the victims, who is now 47, was first targeted by McDonnell when she was four and was abused until she was 11. The abuse ended for a period but he targeted her again when she was aged 14/15.

Reacting to the sentence, she said: "He always told me nobody would believe me, but the truth came out and he's in jail now. He still gives me the same feeling now as he did when I was a child. I still freeze, I'm still afraid of him. I can't believe he threatened us, even now.

"He took my childhood away from me and to this day what he did affects me. I don't hug people, I don't like anyone touching me. I'm glad he's in prison now."

The second complainant was first abused when she was three, and McDonnell's campaign continued until her family moved from the area when she was seven. She is now 43.

"I moved away from Belfast because of what happened to me for a long time, and I thought it would be a case of 'out of sight, out of mind,' but it wasn't.

"He ruined my life, he took my childhood away from me and I came back with the sole reason to get him for what he did. He told us in court 'you may hope I die in jail.' Well, I hope he does."

Peter Irvine QC, for the Crown, noted 10 aggravating factors which included the vulnerability of both of McDonnell's victims due to their young age and "protracted" period of time the abuse occurred.

Mr Irvine also spoke of the lasting impact McDonnell's actions have had on both women, and revealed McDonnell had previous convictions for abusing a five-year old and an eight-year old in the mid 1980s.

Niall Hunt QC, representing McDonnell, said that since leaving school at 15, his client had a steady work record.

He also told Judge Miller his client "is not in great health" which includes very poor eyesight.

During sentencing, Judge Miller noted McDonnell's continued denials and a lack of remorse. The judge also said: "There can be no doubt that both complainants suffered trauma which has impacted on their development, childhood and into adulthood."