DAMIEN WIGGINS FROM LISNASKEA ACCUSED OF DUNGEON ABUSE IN OMAGH CROWN COURT

In a recent and disturbing case heard at Omagh Crown Court, a jury has found that Damien Wiggins, a resident of Lisnaskea, was responsible for committing acts of sexual abuse against a young girl, although he was ultimately deemed unfit to stand trial and therefore not convicted of any criminal offense.

Wiggins, who resides on Trasna Way in Lisnaskea, faced serious allegations involving the sexual exploitation of two female children over a period spanning a decade. Initially, he was charged with twelve counts of sexual abuse, but the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) withdrew six of these charges, leaving eight remaining. The court proceedings focused on the four counts of gross indecency towards a child, which the jury found Wiggins had committed, despite his legal status as unfit to plead.

During the trial, which took place last week, the court heard detailed testimonies from one of the victims, a young woman who recounted her experiences of abuse. She explained that although Wiggins never physically forced her, she felt compelled to comply due to a sense of shame that developed during her childhood, continuing until she reached the age of 15. Her account included specific incidents where she alleged Wiggins had sexually abused her, although she admitted she could not recall the exact timing of the abuse's onset.

The victim described a particular incident that took place in what she referred to as ‘the dungeons,’ a room located in the ruins of a castle near Wiggins’s home in Lisnaskea. She explained that she knew what she was doing during these encounters but felt pressured by Wiggins’s threats. She recounted that he would tell her, “If you don’t meet me I’m going to tell your family about me and you,” a threat she said he repeated on numerous occasions. She described Wiggins standing in the corner of the room, with her able to see his face and smell his scent, and she stated that she simply did what she had to do and then left.

In her testimony, the victim also acknowledged that her meetings with Wiggins were voluntary, describing them as “effectively by appointment,” which she attended during the times she recounted in court. This detail adds complexity to the case, highlighting the victim’s feelings of coercion and the manipulative nature of the abuse.

Following the presentation of evidence, Crown Court Judge Alistair Devlin is now responsible for determining the appropriate legal response to Wiggins’s actions. A pre-sentence report has been ordered and is expected to be submitted by February 18. Wiggins is scheduled to appear again at Coleraine Crown Court on February 21, where he will be informed of the sentence or penalty he faces, pending the judge’s final decision.