Newry police welcome child abuser’s 20 year prison sentence

Police in E District’s Child Abuse Unit have welcomed a sentence handed down at Newry Crown Court today.

48 year old Derek Martin was sentenced to a total of 20 years imprisonment after being found guilty of two counts of rape, seven counts of indecent assault, three counts of gross indecency and one count of threats to damage property.

The offences related to incidents which occurred in the South Armagh area between 1991 and 2006 against three females, two of whom were children at the time of the offences.

Constable Karen Cole said, “We are pleased to see this sentence handed down today and hope that it brings some form of closure for the three victims. The victims have been on a long journey for justice and the process has been harrowing at times.

“I would like to pay tribute to the bravery and strength they have shown, not only during court proceedings but from the start to the end of the criminal justice process.

“This perpetrator preyed on young and vulnerable females and I hope that this sentence sends a clear message that crimes like this will not be tolerated in our society. We believe there may be other victims and we hope that this conviction will encourage people to come forward and make contact with us.

Constable Cole added, “We can be contacted in the Child Abuse Unit by phoning the 101 number.”

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Posted by Newry Times News on Dec 5 2014. Filed under Community, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry