A five year jail sentence handed down to a Derry man who sexually abused two young girls over a seven year period has been welcomed by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).
Kevin Doherty (61), of Main Street, Eglinton, pleaded guilty to six charges of indecent assault of a female and four of gross indecency towards a child at Derry Crown Court yesterday.
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He admitted abusing two girls over a seven year period from 1973 to 1980.
The court heard Doherty was 18-years-old when the abuse began and his victims were aged six and 16.
Doherty’s victims, who are now adults, spoke in the courtroom after he was sentenced urging other victims of sex abuse to come forward and report it to police.
The women said: “We would also encourage other abused people who are suffering in silence like we did for so long to report the abuse to the authorities.
“We want our abuser named and shamed because of what he did to us.
“We want to thank the judge for his sensitivity and for his sentencing comments, which we believe are aimed at protecting children from the type of abuse we endured.”
In response to the jail term handed to Doherty, an NSPCC spokesperson said: “The sentence imposed by the judge sends a strong message that offences against children are serious crimes as well as acknowledging the long-term and potentially devastating impact on the victims.
“We also believe that punishment should go hand in hand with rehabilitation if offenders are to pose less of a risk to children when they leave prison. It is important that when offenders are given custodial sentences they also receive treatment to help change their behaviour and that appropriate probationary and monitoring processes are in place on their release.
“This abuser’s young victims felt unable to report their abuse for many years – we would encourage anyone who has been affected by abuse not to suffer in silence, but to contact ChildLine on 0800 1111 or the NSPCC helpline for adults who are concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000.”
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