ERIK LAURO SHOCKS BELFAST WITH VOYEURISM AND CHILD IMAGE CHARGES
In November 2017, a disturbing case unfolded involving a man named Eric Lauro, whose actions have left a lasting impact on his victims and the community of Belfast.Lauro, aged 54 at the time, was convicted of serious offences related to voyeurism and the possession of indecent images, including those of children.
His crimes came to light after police investigations revealed a troubling pattern of behavior that shocked many.
Eric Lauro, who was residing on Artana Street in Belfast during the time of his conviction, held a position of authority as a team leader at a business in County Antrim.
It was during his employment that he committed the heinous act of secretly filming a female colleague in the staff bathroom, an act of betrayal and violation that would have profound consequences for her life.
Lauro pleaded guilty to the charges, and on October 19, 2012, he was sentenced for his crimes.
The victim, a woman from Northern Ireland, courageously chose to waive her right to anonymity to share her story publicly.
Her name is Karen Taggart, who was 46 years old at the time of her testimony.
She recounted the harrowing experience of discovering that she had been secretly filmed, a revelation that shattered her sense of safety and trust.
Karen first learned of the existence of the images on September 8, 2008, when police informed her that they had found indecent images of her on Lauro’s computer.
Police had initially received intelligence suggesting Lauro possessed indecent images of children.
When they examined his computer, they uncovered a file containing footage of the victim.
Police showed Karen the images, asking her to identify herself.
She was not told the full context of the images or how they had been taken, which added to her distress.
It was only after four years that Lauro admitted to his crimes and was formally sentenced.
Karen vividly recalls the moment her life was turned upside down.
She described being shown the photographs by police and recognizing herself in the images.
“I was told there was footage, and the police came out the following morning.
I was shown two photographs, one at a time,” she explained.
“I was asked if I could identify myself, and when I looked at the first photograph, I thought yes, it looks like me.
But then she handed me another photograph, and I knew immediately.
I knew it was me.” At that time, she was kept in the dark about the nature of the images or how they had been obtained.
The case progressed, and on September 5, 2011, Lauro was arrested.
Karen was informed that there would be a trial, as Lauro was denying the charges.
She expressed her feelings about the ordeal: “It was through court we found out the police had received intelligence he had indecent images of children on his computer.
It was 13 months of knowing I would have to go to court and be a witness, feeling like I was being torn apart for something I had no part in and no knowledge of.” Remarkably, just ten days before the scheduled trial, Lauro changed his plea to guilty on both counts.
Karen recalls the moment she was asked if she wanted to submit a victim impact statement, a process she found emotionally taxing.
She described the tense atmosphere outside the courtroom as Lauro waited to enter.
“I saw him sitting to my side, and I straightened myself up.
He looked up when he heard my heels, and we exchanged glances.
I thought, I haven’t done anything wrong, and he’ll look away before I do.
And he did,” she said.
During the sentencing, Karen was accompanied by her family and a counselor from Nexus NI, a charity dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual violence.
She recounted a particularly upsetting moment when the police officer in charge of her case approached Lauro and engaged him in conversation for several minutes before coming over to her.
“He was standing talking to him for four or five minutes, then came over and said, ‘I was just talking to Eric there and asking what his plans were,’” she explained.
“I thought, how inappropriate and insensitive is that?
I’m not interested in his plans, and I certainly don’t want you referring to him like that.
It was deeply upsetting.” Lauro was sentenced to a year in prison, with six months of that sentence served on license.
The sentences for voyeurism and possession of indecent images of children were ordered to run concurrently.
Additionally, a Sexual Offences Prevention Order was imposed for ten years, prohibiting Lauro from accessing any computer without an internet ‘lock’ approved by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and restricting his use of certain online facilities.
As the judge delivered his final words, Karen remembered feeling a mixture of relief and frustration.
“Take him down,” the judge said, marking the conclusion of the case.
Karen admitted that her faith in the justice system was limited, but she had hoped for Lauro to serve even a single night behind bars to prevent him from walking free.
She described her discomfort during the court proceedings, noting Lauro’s arrogance as he was told to enter the dock and sit in a designated seat, despite his attempts to sit elsewhere.
Despite the sentencing, Karen emphasized that her journey of recovery was far from over.
She revealed that the trauma had led her to develop PTSD, which made simple tasks like taking out the bin or going into town extremely difficult.
She recounted her ongoing struggles with anxiety and hyper-vigilance, especially after her release from prison.
She shared her fears of encountering Lauro again, recalling a distressing incident when she saw him in Belfast shortly after his release.
“I was in town with a friend, near CastleCourt, and I said to her that he was somewhere nearby.
I nearly dropped to the ground, I was horrified.
But I am much better now than I was a few years ago, thanks to a lot of work and determination,” she said.
Karen expressed her gratitude to Nexus NI for their support, which she credits with helping her regain confidence and rebuild her life.
The charity recently received a grant from the Big Lottery Fund to develop a new program aimed at assisting survivors of sexual crime after their initial counseling.
She highlighted the importance of community and shared experiences, describing the Nexus client forum as a vital source of strength.
“It’s helping other survivors, both men and women, to realize that they can have a life and good health—mentally and physically.
That they can be happy, be good partners, parents, siblings, and friends.
Participating in society again is possible,” she said.
Karen concluded with a message of empowerment: “I have nothing to hide or be ashamed about.
I am proud of how far I’ve come, and I want others to know that recovery is possible, no matter what has happened.”
