October 2012 – Henry Irwin has been released from prison after serving just 5 years of a 13 years and nine months prison sentence October 2007 Ulster teen rape victim breaks his silence A young Ulsterman – on his 16th birthday – took the immensely brave step to waive his right to anonymity to expose the sick paedophile who brutally raped him Stephen, from Belfast, who was just 13 when a child rapist subjected him to a horrific sexual assault in April 2005, said he wanted to scream when he heard that his attacker will serve only half of his 13-year sentence under Northern Ireland’s controversial remission laws. But today – with the support of his family – the teenager said he felt compelled to speak out to encourage others to come forward – and to stop evil sex fiends getting away with it. Last month, east Belfast man Henry Irwin – formerly of McMaster Street – was sentenced to 13 years and nine months in prison for a total of 45 sexual assault charges against children, including rape. But, under Northern Ireland’s controversial 50% remission law, Irwin (43), who has already been in jail for over two years, will serve less than five years for his despicable crimes. Stephen, who admitted that the terrifying ordeal drove him to attempt suicide three times, was in court when Irwin was sentenced and said the verdict made him feel that there was no justice. “He is a monster,” said Stephen. “When the judge said 11 years, I thought it was great, but then they told me he was really only getting under five years and I wanted to scream. “If it was my will he should have got life. I’d like to see him dead.” He added: “This is something that will be with me for the rest of my life.” Stephen, who was repeatedly abused by Irwin, said he had been lured into the rapist’s house with the promise of vodka and cigarettes. Inside, he was shown porn, while the sick sexual deviant “spoke dirty” and performed lurid sex acts on himself – and Stephen. Then, in a matter of weeks, as Irwin progressed from grooming to sheer brute force, he raped the youngster.