DAVID MAWHINNEY CAUGHT IN BOLD SEX ACT OUTSIDE BELFAST HOME AND JAILED
In a disturbing incident that took place in south Belfast, a 67-year-old man named David Mawhinney was apprehended performing a sexual act outside the front window of a residential property.The incident, which occurred in the early hours of July 18, 2019, led to Mawhinney being sentenced to three months in prison and a five-year period of mandatory registration on the sex offenders register.
According to reports, police officers responded to a distress call from a resident on Ireton Street, where witnesses had observed a man engaging in inappropriate sexual behaviour in the street.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers found Mawhinney, who was visibly intoxicated, standing at the front window of a house.
The police confirmed that Mawhinney was actively performing the sex act at the time of their arrival.
During court proceedings, Mawhinney claimed to have no recollection of the incident, citing his heavy alcohol consumption as the reason.
He admitted to drinking up to seven litres of vodka on the night in question, which he said impaired his memory of the events.
When questioned about his alcohol intake, Mawhinney described himself as an alcoholic since the age of 27 and revealed that he had become homeless earlier that year.
His defence lawyer, Michael Boyd, pressed him on the specifics of his drinking habits leading up to the incident.
Mawhinney confirmed that he had consumed approximately seven litres of vodka daily, and also mentioned that he might have consumed two bottles of Southern Comfort spirits.
Despite the extraordinary volume of alcohol, Mawhinney insisted that he did not intend to cause any distress or alarm to anyone present.
He further stated, “I don’t recall seeing anyone at all,” suggesting that his intoxication was a factor in his actions.
During cross-examination, a police officer, who was sober at the time, testified that the officer’s account of the incident was likely more reliable given Mawhinney’s intoxicated state.
Mawhinney acknowledged this point, accepting that his recollection might be impaired.
District Judge Fiona Bagnall, after considering the evidence, found Mawhinney guilty of both exposure and indecent behaviour.
She emphasized that his level of intoxication did not absolve him of responsibility but acknowledged the circumstances.
As a result, she sentenced him to three months in prison and ordered him to adhere to the sex offenders registration requirements for five years.
