HUGH McBRIDE SENTENCED IN LETTERKENNY FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND IMAGE POSSESSION IN DONEGAL
| Red Rose Database
County Donegal Child Sexual Abuser
In February 2019, Hugh McBride, a 61-year-old man from Letterkenny, was convicted of possessing child sexual abuse images after alerting gardaí to a disturbing scheme involving an 11-year-old boy. McBride had previously been convicted for a series of offenses against children in England during the 1980s and 1990s, and he will remain on the sex offenders register for life.
McBride appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court, pleading guilty to possessing indecent images on his laptop at his rented residence in Oldtown, Letterkenny. The court was informed that McBride had been contacted by another sex offender, whom he had met in Dublin’s Arbour Hill Prison while on remand. This individual sought McBride’s assistance in finding work and discussed plans to "share" an 11-year-old boy in Cork. McBride declined involvement and instead reported the threat to gardaí. Following this, law enforcement raided his home and recovered his laptop and other items.
An examination of McBride’s laptop revealed 334 images of child pornography, many sourced from nudist websites. The court acknowledged that these images were at the lower end of the severity scale. During a police interview on February 10th, 2017, McBride stated that he had taken the pictures from nudist sites, claiming, “that to me is not child porn.” When asked if he had a sexual interest in boys, he responded, “Yes, it never goes away.”
It was noted that McBride’s living situation was unstable, having been moved three times after his previous convictions became known. Shane Costello, representing McBride, highlighted his client’s history and mentioned that he was already under lifelong monitoring on the sex offenders register. Mr. Costello stated, “He always took responsibility for the images. It is to his credit that underneath all of this he went to the gardaí to report a far more serious crime, potentially of a boy aged 11 being shared about Cork city.” He emphasized that McBride was not actively purchasing the images but managed his own depravity through images freely available online.
Judge John Aylmer was informed of McBride’s extensive criminal history, which included gross indecency, taking indecent photographs of children, and indecent assault, for which he served substantial jail terms. The judge remarked on the complexity of the case and indicated that sentencing would be delivered on the following Friday.
In a prior 2013 case, Hugh McBride (then 55) was sentenced to 18 months in prison for historic sexual offenses committed over two decades earlier. McBride admitted to two counts of indecent assault and two of indecency with a child in Medway in late 1989. The victim kept the abuse secret until 2010, and in the meantime, McBride had committed additional offenses in Humberside, leading to a five-year sentence in 1999. After his release in 2002, he was deported to Ireland. When his history was uncovered, he was extradited back to the UK and initially denied the charges before pleading guilty only after the prosecution presented his prior convictions.
At Maidstone Crown Court, Judge Philip Statman sentenced McBride to nine months’ imprisonment for the indecency offenses, which he regarded as more serious than the indecent assaults. The judge noted that had the offenses occurred today, the starting point for sentencing would be approximately 13 years—significantly higher than the sentence available under laws in 1989. McBride was also sentenced to nine months concurrent for the indecent assaults. It was disclosed that the crimes occurred in Rainham when McBride molested a boy around eight years old. The victim later confided in his partner and mother, seeking help and reporting the abuse. Despite only recalling the first name Hugh, authorities identified McBride through police investigations.
Judge Statman remarked on the victim’s long-held secret, which was finally revealed in 2010 after counseling and support, as a result of the victim’s courage and the victim’s desire to prevent similar harm to others. The judge acknowledged McBride’s own history of childhood sexual abuse, understanding the horrors of such experiences.
Following his five-year sentence, McBride completed a rehabilitation course and generally maintained good conduct. Residing in Ireland at the time of sentencing, he was under police supervision, monitored every six weeks.
McBride appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court, pleading guilty to possessing indecent images on his laptop at his rented residence in Oldtown, Letterkenny. The court was informed that McBride had been contacted by another sex offender, whom he had met in Dublin’s Arbour Hill Prison while on remand. This individual sought McBride’s assistance in finding work and discussed plans to "share" an 11-year-old boy in Cork. McBride declined involvement and instead reported the threat to gardaí. Following this, law enforcement raided his home and recovered his laptop and other items.
An examination of McBride’s laptop revealed 334 images of child pornography, many sourced from nudist websites. The court acknowledged that these images were at the lower end of the severity scale. During a police interview on February 10th, 2017, McBride stated that he had taken the pictures from nudist sites, claiming, “that to me is not child porn.” When asked if he had a sexual interest in boys, he responded, “Yes, it never goes away.”
It was noted that McBride’s living situation was unstable, having been moved three times after his previous convictions became known. Shane Costello, representing McBride, highlighted his client’s history and mentioned that he was already under lifelong monitoring on the sex offenders register. Mr. Costello stated, “He always took responsibility for the images. It is to his credit that underneath all of this he went to the gardaí to report a far more serious crime, potentially of a boy aged 11 being shared about Cork city.” He emphasized that McBride was not actively purchasing the images but managed his own depravity through images freely available online.
Judge John Aylmer was informed of McBride’s extensive criminal history, which included gross indecency, taking indecent photographs of children, and indecent assault, for which he served substantial jail terms. The judge remarked on the complexity of the case and indicated that sentencing would be delivered on the following Friday.
In a prior 2013 case, Hugh McBride (then 55) was sentenced to 18 months in prison for historic sexual offenses committed over two decades earlier. McBride admitted to two counts of indecent assault and two of indecency with a child in Medway in late 1989. The victim kept the abuse secret until 2010, and in the meantime, McBride had committed additional offenses in Humberside, leading to a five-year sentence in 1999. After his release in 2002, he was deported to Ireland. When his history was uncovered, he was extradited back to the UK and initially denied the charges before pleading guilty only after the prosecution presented his prior convictions.
At Maidstone Crown Court, Judge Philip Statman sentenced McBride to nine months’ imprisonment for the indecency offenses, which he regarded as more serious than the indecent assaults. The judge noted that had the offenses occurred today, the starting point for sentencing would be approximately 13 years—significantly higher than the sentence available under laws in 1989. McBride was also sentenced to nine months concurrent for the indecent assaults. It was disclosed that the crimes occurred in Rainham when McBride molested a boy around eight years old. The victim later confided in his partner and mother, seeking help and reporting the abuse. Despite only recalling the first name Hugh, authorities identified McBride through police investigations.
Judge Statman remarked on the victim’s long-held secret, which was finally revealed in 2010 after counseling and support, as a result of the victim’s courage and the victim’s desire to prevent similar harm to others. The judge acknowledged McBride’s own history of childhood sexual abuse, understanding the horrors of such experiences.
Following his five-year sentence, McBride completed a rehabilitation course and generally maintained good conduct. Residing in Ireland at the time of sentencing, he was under police supervision, monitored every six weeks.