Derry man extradited from US jailed for historical sex abuse of his niece over 40 years ago

A Derry man who was extradited from the United States has been jailed at the local Crown Court for indecently assaulting his niece over 40 years ago. 

The man who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of his victim admitted 12 counts of indecent assault on the woman on dates between August 13 1975 and August 16 1979.

The court heard that the abuse began when the victim was aged 11.

In a victim impact report the woman said she carried ‘the scars of what he did to this day’.

The woman first attended Strand Road in October 2014 when the defendant was living in the US.

Eventually he was extradited and charged with the offences and pleaded guilty in September of this year.

The court heard that the defendant sexually abused the victim on numerous occasions stripping her and making her touch him.

The abuse occurred over a number of years until the woman was aged 15.

Judge Neil Rafferty KC said that was often the case familial sexual abuse often had ‘a damaging and corrosive impact’ on relationships within families.

Before passing sentence Judge Rafferty said that fortunately a ‘disgraceful distinction’ in these sort of cases had been ended where indecent assault on a female carried a maximum of two years while a similar assault on a male carried a maximum of ten years.

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He said those who abused young children ‘must expect a custodial sentence’.

The man was sentenced to three years with 18 months in custody and 18 months on licence and two years on probation.

He also has to sign the Sex Offender’s Register for a period of 10 years.

Commenting following the sentencing of the 68 year old man, originally from the Derry area but who was residing in Melrose USA, Detective Sergeant Jayne Parkers said: “In June 2021 we obtained warrants for sexual offences carried out in Northern Ireland for the extradition from the USA. He was extradited and brought back to Northern Ireland in January 2024. He thought that he could evade justice, he was wrong.

“Today our thoughts are with the victim, who was only a child when these offences were committed. I would like to commend the immense bravery she has shown throughout this investigation and working with detectives to bring her abuser to justice.

“No one, let alone a child, should ever be subjected to any form of sexual abuse or manipulation. Today’s sentencing illustrates that the passage of time is no barrier to justice, and we will bring offenders to court, no matter when the abuse occurred. We remain committed to investigating all reports of sexual offences against children and young people.

“If you have ever experienced or witnessed any form of sexual abuse we urge you to contact police on 101, or in an emergency call 999. We have specially trained detectives who can help you, no matter when the abuse happened. You don’t have to suffer in silence.”