KELLY MEIGHAN FROM DUNMURRY ESCAPES JAIL AFTER SEXUAL ABUSE OF GIRLS AS A TEENAGER

In a case that has shocked the community of Dunmurry, Kelly Meighan, a woman now aged 37, was brought before Craigavon Crown Court to face serious allegations of sexual abuse committed during her teenage years. Despite the gravity of the charges, she was ultimately sentenced to a two-year jail term, which was suspended for three years, allowing her to avoid immediate imprisonment.

Judge Patrick Lynch QC, presiding over the case, acknowledged the difficult background from which Meighan came. He noted that her childhood was marked by turbulence, including a violent father who was physically abusive towards his daughter and a mother struggling with alcoholism. These circumstances were considered as part of the judge’s assessment of her case. While he ordered Meighan, a mother of two, to sign the police sex offenders register for a decade, he decided against imposing a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, citing the low risk of reoffending and the specific details of the case.

Meighan, who resides at Pembroke Court in Dunmurry, confessed to eight counts of indecent assault and five counts of gross indecency involving a child. The offences reportedly took place on various dates between December 31, 1993, and November 19, 1998, when she was a teenager. The victims were three young girls, aged between five and eight at the time of the abuse. The court heard harrowing details of the incidents, which included mutual inappropriate touching and penetration of the girls’ private parts and chest areas. One victim recounted how Meighan kissed her on the lips “like a proper adult snog,” highlighting the disturbing nature of the abuse.

The case first came to light in 2013 when one of the victims attempted to take her own life. However, it was not until 2017 that police questioned Meighan about the allegations. She initially denied any wrongdoing and maintained her innocence up until the day her trial commenced. On the morning of her court appearance, she admitted to the charges, which added a significant weight to the proceedings.

Judge Lynch considered both mitigating and aggravating factors during sentencing. He emphasized that the offences were particularly serious due to the victims’ young age and vulnerability. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that Meighan had shown remorse and had admitted her guilt, which influenced his decision. The court also took into account the fact that she had lost her job as a care worker, and that the case had attracted considerable media attention, leading to her being attacked in the street on one occasion. Given the low risk of reoffending, the judge decided not to restrict her from working with children in the future, balancing the severity of the crimes with her personal circumstances and the evidence presented.