Violent Sexual Offender Sentenced to 12 Years in Northern Ireland

VIOLENT SEXUAL OFFENDER SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Joseph Martin Healy, who is now listed as being in Maghaberry Prison, was convicted of a series of severe violent and sexual offenses against his pregnant partner.

A judge at Londonderry Crown Court described Healy’s violence as some of the worst observed in a long time.

The offenses included the rape of his partner, urinating on her, choking her, biting and scraping her with a kitchen knife, and subjecting her to humiliating physical violence over a period from February to September 2013, when she was 20 years old and eight months pregnant.

The abuse continued after her childbirth.

The sexual assaults occurred on three consecutive mornings, initiated after Healy urinated on her face and during which he also punched her to heighten sexual excitement.

The judge noted the lasting psychological harm on the victim, which required ongoing treatment.

Healy admitted to some of the physical abuse but denied the sexual offenses initially, though he later changed his plea to guilty.

He was sentenced to 12 years in prison and will be subject to an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

The judge indicated that if he had contested the charges and been found guilty by a jury, a sentence of 16 years would have been imposed.