DERRY MAN DAVID MCCALLION SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN LONDONDERRY
In January 2019, a man from Londonderry, identified as David McCallion, was sentenced to six months in prison for historic child sexual offences committed while he was babysitting a young boy.The incident took place over a period of a little more than two years, from March 1993 to April 1995, in the Shantallow area of Londonderry, where McCallion resided in Cornshell Fields.
McCallion, aged 45 at the time of sentencing, had previously worked as a porter at the Magee Campus of Ulster University.
Despite his conviction, he maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings and denied any involvement in the offences.
The case was brought to trial at Londonderry Crown Court, where he was found unanimously guilty last November of four charges related to the sexual abuse of an eleven-year-old boy, who was his next-door neighbor at the time.
The charges included two counts of indecently assaulting the boy and two counts of gross indecency.
The gross indecency charges involved McCallion encouraging the boy to touch his genitals and to masturbate him.
The court heard that McCallion’s actions were opportunistic, selfish, and without regard for the victim’s well-being.
The judge, Philip Babington, noted that after abusing the boy, McCallion would leave him a small amount of money, specifically a couple of pounds, as a form of compensation or bribe.
The victim, who was only eleven years old at the time, initially kept silent about the abuse due to fear.
It was only about ten years prior to the trial that he confided in his wife, and later, approximately two and a half years before the court proceedings, he decided to report the matter to a local parish priest, Father Joe Gormley, of St.
Mary’s Parish in the Creggan area of Londonderry.
The priest warned the boy that if he named his abuser during their meeting, he would be obliged to report it to the police.
Following this, Father Gormley contacted the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
During police interviews, McCallion claimed the allegations were false.
He stated that he and his then-girlfriend, who is now his current partner, had babysat the victim and his two sisters, but insisted that nothing inappropriate had occurred.
Despite his denials, the court considered the victim impact statement, which detailed the profound effects the abuse had on the victim’s life.
Judge Babington expressed hope that the guilty verdict would help the victim find some closure.
He also reviewed a pre-sentence report prepared by a probation officer, which indicated that McCallion maintained his innocence and questioned the victim’s motives for coming forward.
The report classified McCallion as low risk for re-offending based on a risk assessment.
The judge acknowledged that the offences were serious, given the victim’s vulnerability due to his age and the breach of trust involved.
However, he also noted that McCallion had led a blameless life apart from this incident.
In sentencing, McCallion was ordered to serve six months in prison, followed by twelve months on licence, and was placed on the Sex Offender’s Register for seven years.
Throughout the sentencing, McCallion showed no visible emotion, while members of his family in the public gallery were seen weeping.
Following the case, Detective Chief Inspector Billy Cross of the PSNI’s Public Protection Branch emphasized that justice can be achieved regardless of how much time has passed.
He urged victims of sexual abuse to come forward and report their experiences, assuring that trained officers would handle all cases with sensitivity and respect.
Cross highlighted that this case demonstrated that even decades later, authorities can investigate and prosecute sexual offences against children, ensuring that offenders are held accountable.
