DAVID TWEED'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN BALLYMENA REVEALED: RUGBY STAR TURNED CHILD SEX OFFENDER
| Red Rose Database
Ballymena Child Sexual Abuser
In a case that has sent shockwaves through Ballymena and the wider community, former Irish rugby international David Tweed was sentenced to eight years in prison for a series of heinous child sex offenses. The conviction followed a detailed trial at Downpatrick Crown Court, where the court heard harrowing accounts of abuse spanning nearly a decade.
David Tweed, aged 53, a well-known figure in Ballymena, Co Antrim, and a former rugby star who represented Ireland and Ulster, was visibly emotional as he was led from the courtroom to begin his sentence at Maghaberry Prison, a high-security facility in County Antrim. Supporters and family members gathered outside the court, some of whom expressed their anguish through tears, while others exchanged heated words amid the tense atmosphere.
The court proceedings revealed that Tweed was convicted on 13 counts, including indecent assault, gross indecency, and inciting a child to commit an act of gross indecency. The abuse was committed over an eight-year period starting in 1988, when Tweed was at the peak of his rugby career. The victims, two young girls at the time, were between the ages of eight and eleven when the abuse occurred. The court heard that the trauma inflicted on these victims has had lasting effects, with one attempting suicide, suffering from sleep disturbances, and experiencing the breakdown of her marriage.
Judge Alistair Devlin described Tweed’s crimes as “thoroughly despicable and deeply disturbing,” emphasizing the devastating impact on the victims’ lives. He acknowledged the bravery of the victims, who testified during the two-week trial, and expressed hope that the verdict would help them begin to recover from the shadow cast over their lives. The judge also criticized Tweed’s apparent lack of remorse, noting that he showed no emotion as the verdicts were read and shook his head in denial when details of the abuse were recounted.
During the sentencing, Tweed stood in the dock dressed in a dark suit, with a blue and white striped shirt, sporting a new grey goatee beard. He appeared to have lost weight since his remand in custody the previous November. From Clonavon Terrace in Ballymena, Tweed is a father of four children and has two stepchildren. His background includes work as a railway supervisor and a Ballymena councillor, as well as a prominent rugby career during the 1980s and 1990s. He played for Ulster and was selected to face France in the 1995 Five Nations, later participating in the Rugby World Cup in South Africa.
Despite his sporting achievements, Tweed’s reputation was marred by his outspoken unionist views and controversial political affiliations. He once claimed, “I played 30 times for my country (Ulster) and once for Ireland,” and was known for wearing his Ulster top under the Irish jersey, symbolically close to his heart. Allegations also circulated that he would sing “God Save The Queen” before matches at Lansdowne Road, further highlighting his divisive character. Tweed was an active member of the Orange Order and entered politics with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) after his lodge, LOL 496, was prevented from marching through Dunloy in the mid-1990s, near his hometown. He played a significant role during the Harryville dispute, where loyalists picketed a Catholic church in Ballymena for nine months.
In 2007, Tweed left the DUP over its decision to share power with Sinn Féin and later joined Jim Allister’s Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), from which he was eventually expelled. The court acknowledged character references from former constituents and community members in Ballymena, though Judge Devlin questioned whether they fully understood the extent of Tweed’s crimes. The judge remarked that it was tragic that someone once highly regarded in society could commit such heinous acts.
Prosecutor Richard Weir QC highlighted the profound and ongoing impact of Tweed’s abuse on the victims, emphasizing that their lives had been marred and would likely continue to be affected. Defense lawyer Laurence McCrudden argued that the victim impact statements were subjective and untested, asserting that Tweed’s character references portrayed him as a man of decency. He also pointed out that Tweed’s loss of liberty, employment, and reputation was a heavy price to pay, contrasting his achievements with the gravity of the charges.
In November 2012, a jury of 10 women and two men took two days to convict Tweed on 13 counts after deliberating for eight hours. The jury had previously acquitted him of one count of indecent assault. The court heard that Tweed’s crimes against the two girls, now women, spanned eight years, and the verdict marked a significant moment in the pursuit of justice.
Judge Devlin expressed hope that the victims and their families could find some solace in the verdict, urging them to move forward from the dark shadow cast by the abuse. He praised their resilience and restraint throughout the proceedings. Upon sentencing, Tweed was remanded into custody, with a sentencing hearing scheduled for early the following year.
Following the case, the Belfast Telegraph successfully challenged a court order that had prevented the media from identifying Tweed, allowing the public to learn the full extent of his crimes. This decision was welcomed by child protection advocates and officials, who emphasized the importance of transparency and the need for victims to come forward. The case has underscored the ongoing challenge of safeguarding children and the critical role of the media in exposing abuse and supporting justice.
David Tweed, aged 53, a well-known figure in Ballymena, Co Antrim, and a former rugby star who represented Ireland and Ulster, was visibly emotional as he was led from the courtroom to begin his sentence at Maghaberry Prison, a high-security facility in County Antrim. Supporters and family members gathered outside the court, some of whom expressed their anguish through tears, while others exchanged heated words amid the tense atmosphere.
The court proceedings revealed that Tweed was convicted on 13 counts, including indecent assault, gross indecency, and inciting a child to commit an act of gross indecency. The abuse was committed over an eight-year period starting in 1988, when Tweed was at the peak of his rugby career. The victims, two young girls at the time, were between the ages of eight and eleven when the abuse occurred. The court heard that the trauma inflicted on these victims has had lasting effects, with one attempting suicide, suffering from sleep disturbances, and experiencing the breakdown of her marriage.
Judge Alistair Devlin described Tweed’s crimes as “thoroughly despicable and deeply disturbing,” emphasizing the devastating impact on the victims’ lives. He acknowledged the bravery of the victims, who testified during the two-week trial, and expressed hope that the verdict would help them begin to recover from the shadow cast over their lives. The judge also criticized Tweed’s apparent lack of remorse, noting that he showed no emotion as the verdicts were read and shook his head in denial when details of the abuse were recounted.
During the sentencing, Tweed stood in the dock dressed in a dark suit, with a blue and white striped shirt, sporting a new grey goatee beard. He appeared to have lost weight since his remand in custody the previous November. From Clonavon Terrace in Ballymena, Tweed is a father of four children and has two stepchildren. His background includes work as a railway supervisor and a Ballymena councillor, as well as a prominent rugby career during the 1980s and 1990s. He played for Ulster and was selected to face France in the 1995 Five Nations, later participating in the Rugby World Cup in South Africa.
Despite his sporting achievements, Tweed’s reputation was marred by his outspoken unionist views and controversial political affiliations. He once claimed, “I played 30 times for my country (Ulster) and once for Ireland,” and was known for wearing his Ulster top under the Irish jersey, symbolically close to his heart. Allegations also circulated that he would sing “God Save The Queen” before matches at Lansdowne Road, further highlighting his divisive character. Tweed was an active member of the Orange Order and entered politics with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) after his lodge, LOL 496, was prevented from marching through Dunloy in the mid-1990s, near his hometown. He played a significant role during the Harryville dispute, where loyalists picketed a Catholic church in Ballymena for nine months.
In 2007, Tweed left the DUP over its decision to share power with Sinn Féin and later joined Jim Allister’s Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), from which he was eventually expelled. The court acknowledged character references from former constituents and community members in Ballymena, though Judge Devlin questioned whether they fully understood the extent of Tweed’s crimes. The judge remarked that it was tragic that someone once highly regarded in society could commit such heinous acts.
Prosecutor Richard Weir QC highlighted the profound and ongoing impact of Tweed’s abuse on the victims, emphasizing that their lives had been marred and would likely continue to be affected. Defense lawyer Laurence McCrudden argued that the victim impact statements were subjective and untested, asserting that Tweed’s character references portrayed him as a man of decency. He also pointed out that Tweed’s loss of liberty, employment, and reputation was a heavy price to pay, contrasting his achievements with the gravity of the charges.
In November 2012, a jury of 10 women and two men took two days to convict Tweed on 13 counts after deliberating for eight hours. The jury had previously acquitted him of one count of indecent assault. The court heard that Tweed’s crimes against the two girls, now women, spanned eight years, and the verdict marked a significant moment in the pursuit of justice.
Judge Devlin expressed hope that the victims and their families could find some solace in the verdict, urging them to move forward from the dark shadow cast by the abuse. He praised their resilience and restraint throughout the proceedings. Upon sentencing, Tweed was remanded into custody, with a sentencing hearing scheduled for early the following year.
Following the case, the Belfast Telegraph successfully challenged a court order that had prevented the media from identifying Tweed, allowing the public to learn the full extent of his crimes. This decision was welcomed by child protection advocates and officials, who emphasized the importance of transparency and the need for victims to come forward. The case has underscored the ongoing challenge of safeguarding children and the critical role of the media in exposing abuse and supporting justice.