GARY MCKEE SENTENCED FOR ABUSING TWO YOUNG GIRLS IN BELFAST
In August 2019, a man from Belfast named Gary McKee was formally sentenced after being convicted of sexually abusing two young girls.The case, which drew significant public attention, culminated in a four-year prison term for McKee, who is 57 years old.
The Belfast Crown Court handed down this sentence, specifying that he would serve three years behind bars, followed by a one-year period on probation once released.
As McKee was led away from the courtroom to the detention cells, a hostile crowd in the public gallery directed verbal abuse at him, calling him a "dirty b*****d" and shouting "rot in hell." These reactions underscored the community's outrage and condemnation of his actions.
The conviction stemmed from a jury's unanimous decision in June, where McKee was found guilty of 14 counts of indecent assault.
At that time, he was released on bail, but his legal representative, barrister John Orr QC, revealed that McKee had revoked his own bail, choosing to surrender himself to custody.
The trial, which lasted two weeks, featured emotional testimonies from the two victims, who recounted the abuse they suffered at the hands of McKee during the 1980s and 1990s in the east of Belfast.
One of the women disclosed that she was subjected to abuse from the age of eight until she was 15, while the other victim revealed her abuse began after she finished P7 in 1988 and continued until 1992.
During these years, McKee was between 26 and 32 years old when he committed these numerous assaults.
In July 2017, McKee was interviewed by police and denied any wrongdoing.
He maintained his innocence throughout the trial, asserting that he had done nothing wrong.
Despite his denials, the jury rejected his account and convicted him on all 14 counts.
Judge Stephen Fowler QC, who presided over the sentencing, noted that McKee had given the victims money and sweets during the period of abuse.
While he dismissed the idea that this constituted grooming, the judge suggested that these gestures were likely intended to silence the victims about what was happening to them at the time.
Victim impact statements revealed the profound and lasting effects of the abuse.
The judge highlighted that one of the victims now exhibits symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, emphasizing the deep psychological scars left by McKee’s actions.
He stated, "The abuse she suffered as a child was a harrowing experience for her and has had a significant impact on her life." The second victim also suffered considerable harm, and her suffering was acknowledged as equally severe.
In addition to the prison sentence, McKee, who is already listed on the sex offenders register, was subjected to a sexual offences prevention order that will remain in effect for five years.
This order aims to restrict his activities and monitor his behavior to prevent further offenses, reflecting the court’s concern for public safety and the protection of potential future victims.
