JOHN QUIGLEY FROM NORTHERN IRELAND SENTENCED FOR SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING SCOUT VICTIM

John Quigley, a resident of Maybrook Mews in Northern Ireland, has a troubling criminal history that spans decades, with a total of 32 previous convictions. Alarmingly, 30 of these convictions are related to sex offences, highlighting a pattern of predatory behavior. The 60-year-old former senior employee of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive faced serious charges concerning historical abuse allegations.

During a court hearing at Derry Crown Court, Quigley admitted to two counts of indecently assaulting a male victim. The incidents in question occurred between December 1973 and April 1975, when Quigley was just 16 years old, and the victim was only 14. These offences took place in a period when Quigley was a teenager himself, which adds a disturbing layer to the case.

The court was informed that the victim had come forward after years of silence, disclosing the abuse to a counselling and support service before formally reporting it to the police in 2015. The victim’s account revealed that he first met Quigley through their involvement with the Boy Scouts of Ireland, where Quigley held a leadership position and was older than the victim. The relationship, which initially appeared to be innocent, took a sinister turn when Quigley invited the young boy to his house to work on badge-related activities.

According to the victim’s testimony, Quigley took him into a garage and instructed him to open his trousers, subsequently touching him in a sexual manner. Quigley then told the boy to keep this act a secret and warned him not to tell anyone, instilling fear and confusion. A few weeks later, the victim and Quigley went for a walk along the River Foyle. During this outing, Quigley suggested they lie down on some grass, where he again engaged in sexual touching, this time for approximately half an hour. Throughout this ordeal, Quigley reassured the victim that everything would be alright, further manipulating him, and once again warned him to keep the incident a secret.

Following these events, the victim ceased contact with Quigley, especially after Quigley became a cub leader, and their meetings were scheduled on different nights, reducing the opportunity for further abuse. Quigley was questioned by police in 2015 regarding the allegations but denied any involvement or knowledge of the victim. He claimed to have no memory of the complainant and denied taking any younger boys under his wing.

During the court proceedings, defense counsel Martin Rodgers, QC, acknowledged that Quigley recognized the harm caused to the victim. The defense highlighted that Quigley had previously served two prison sentences for similar offences committed around the same time period. Quigley expressed a desire to move past his past actions and put an end to his offending history.

Judge Philip Babington sentenced Quigley to a 12-month prison term, suspended for two years. The judge emphasized the severity of Quigley’s misconduct, describing his behavior as “completely wrong and unacceptable,” and noted that his actions had “blighted many people’s lives.” Additionally, Quigley will be subject to the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of ten years, requiring him to adhere to strict notification requirements to monitor his activities and prevent further harm.