Two sentenced for engaging in sexual activity with a female child in Derry

Judge Roseanne McCormick told the two abusers, Lennon Crossan (20) from Knockalla Park and Odhran McLaughlin (20) from Lecky Road, that they'd engaged in opportunistic behaviour for their own sexual gratification which, according to a Victim Impact Statement, left the girl, who was one of their peer group, devastated and traumatised.

She said the offending occurred in October 2020, the first year of Covid, when the schools had been closed, resulting in teenagers roaming unsupervised in an atmosphere of alcohol, drugs and of illegal sexual activity.

The defendants both pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity involving penetration with a female child.

They were sentenced to a three year Enhanced Combination Order and ordered to complete one hundred hours of community service.

They were also ordered to live only in an approved address for the duration of the Order, not to contact children under the age of 16, unless it is approved by Social Services, and not to enter into a relationship with under 18-year-olds without prior disclosure of their sexual offending.

A prosecution barrister told the court that all three were together in a house where there was a gathering of teenagers.

"She said Lennon and Odhran said she wasn't leaving the room until they had a threesome," the prosecutor said. "She on her account refused their suggestion. She said they continued to try to convince her. Her account was that she did ask them to stop and tried to leave the room but was prevented from leaving. She was unsure how long the sexual activity lasted.”

Judge McCormick said the maximum sentence in the case was one of five years imprisonment. She said that in imposing the Enhanced Combination Order she took into consideration the defendants' admissions, the fact that the case had been hanging over them for four years since the allegations were first made, as well as the fact that both men had co-operated fully with the police investigation.

"I wish to commend the injured party in this case for her courage and clarity in continuing with this case.”

“Victims in such cases sometimes feel the case is about the abusers. The interests of the injured party will always remain at the heart of the process. This was a very important case in that everyone involved in this case was a child at the time,” she said.