IVAN CARSON FROM ENNISKILLEN FACES SEXUAL ABUSE CHARGES IN DUNGANNON

In June 2014, a disturbing case emerged involving Ivan Carson, a man aged 85, who was found to have committed serious sexual offenses against young boys over three decades ago. Carson, a resident of Letterbreen near Enniskillen, appeared at Dungannon Crown Court to face a total of 14 charges related to indecent assault on minors.

Initially, Carson entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. However, the court later determined that the elderly defendant was suffering from a mental disability, rendering him unfit to stand trial in the traditional sense. As a result, the jury's role was adjusted; instead of deciding guilt or innocence, they were tasked with determining whether Carson had indeed committed the acts described in the charges.

The allegations against Carson spanned several years, with the first set of 10 charges relating to an incident involving a boy aged just 10 or 11 years old, occurring between February 26, 1978, and February 28, 1983, when the boy was 14. The court heard evidence that led the jury to conclude that Carson had sexually abused this young boy in the manner described in the charges.

In addition, Carson faced four more charges concerning a second boy, who was between 12 and 14 years old at the time of the alleged offenses. These incidents took place from August 31, 1978, to July 7, 1981. The jury found that Carson had indeed sexually abused this second boy in three of the four instances, although they did not find sufficient evidence to confirm the fourth charge.

The case drew parallels to the notorious case involving the McDermott brothers, James and Owen Roe, who sexually abused children in Donagh, near Lisnaskea, over a period of 30 years. Like Carson, the McDermott brothers were deemed unfit to stand trial due to their mental disabilities, yet a jury concluded that they had committed the acts as charged. They were subsequently placed under Treatment and Supervision Orders.

As the proceedings continue, the judge is scheduled to make a decision regarding Carson's future when he appears again at Dungannon Crown Court on June 24. In the meantime, Carson has been ordered to register as a sex offender, a standard procedure in cases of this nature, to ensure ongoing monitoring and public safety.