JOHN BEIRNE, FORMER ST HELENS MAYOR, ADMITTED TO SEXUALLY ABUSING CHILDREN IN SHOCKING CRIMES

In a disturbing development, John Beirne, a former mayor of St Helens, has publicly admitted to the sexual abuse of four young boys during the 1970s and 1980s. The revelations came after Beirne, aged 55 and residing on Blackdown Grove in St Helens, initially faced 14 charges but ultimately pleaded guilty to eight of them during a court hearing at Liverpool Crown Court.

Beirne, who previously served as a local councillor for over two decades and held the esteemed position of mayor in 2008, showed no remorse as he refused to apologise to his victims. His admission of guilt was made in a courtroom setting, where he detailed the abuse inflicted upon boys aged between eight and 12, when he himself was only 14 and 15 years old at the time.

Known for his appearances on television and his role as a hairdresser—owner of Avanti on Westfield Street in St Helens—Beirne’s reputation has now been marred by these serious allegations. When questioned about his crimes earlier today, he chose to remain silent, avoiding cameras and refusing to comment publicly. During the proceedings, he sat uneasily in the dock as he admitted to indecently assaulting one boy in a bedroom by touching his genitals. He also confessed to indecently assaulting the same victim, aged between eight and ten, in a shed by pressing his naked genitalia against the boy’s.

Further, Beirne admitted to similar offences against a second child, aged 10 and 11, on a grassy area, and to indecently touching and being touched by a third boy, aged 11 and 12. He also pleaded guilty to two counts involving a fourth boy, aged 10 to 11, whom he touched and made touch him in a shed. Prosecutor Ben Jones indicated that he would request the remaining charges to be formally dropped and left on file.

Judge Robert Warnock acknowledged the seriousness of the case, noting that the report from probation officers would consider all options moving forward. Beirne was granted bail but was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and was placed under an interim notification order, reflecting the gravity of his crimes.

John Beirne’s political career spanned over two decades, from his initial election to the council in 1990 until his departure in 2012. His tenure included a notable stint as mayor in 2008. Despite his political involvement, he was unsuccessful in last year’s local elections, standing as an Independent candidate in the Sutton ward, where he was defeated by Labour.

His public image was previously marred by a gaffe on the BBC One quiz show 'Weakest Link' in 2009, where he admitted to shopping in Manchester despite urging residents of St Helens to support local businesses to preserve jobs. The incident drew media attention, and he was eliminated from the game after the second round. Aside from his political and media appearances, Beirne was also known for his musical pursuits, having released several albums with his pop and gospel group, the Celebration Choir. However, these recent revelations have cast a dark shadow over his past achievements and reputation.