COLERAINE PAEDOPHILE MATTHEW MCSEVENEY ADMITS SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILD IN SHOCKING CASE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Coleraine, 33-year-old Matthew McSeveney has pleaded guilty to serious charges of sexual abuse involving a young girl. The incident, which took place between March 1 and September 30, 2022, has brought to light the disturbing actions of a man who exploited a vulnerable child in his own home.

During the second day of his trial at Antrim Crown Court, McSeveney admitted to engaging in sexual assault and participating in sexual activities in the presence of a minor, as well as forcing her to watch explicit videos. These admissions came after he confessed to the charges, leaving prosecutors to consider the remaining allegations. Prosecuting counsel Mark Farrell announced that the prosecution would not pursue further evidence on five other charges, which included three counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and two counts of causing a child to view sexual acts.

The court heard harrowing details of the abuse from the opening statements. Mr. Farrell described how the 10-year-old victim was in McSeveney’s home when he initiated a “sexualised conversation.” The conversation reportedly began with a game of “truth or dare,” but quickly devolved into inappropriate and disturbing topics. McSeveney allegedly told the girl how babies are made and warned her not to tell her parents, claiming that revealing what they discussed could get them into trouble. The prosecutor also revealed that McSeveney later engaged in a sickening act of simulated sex using a bottle, claiming that this was what sex was like, before pulling his trousers back up.

Further details revealed that on another occasion, the young girl was playing a video game when McSeveney showed her a video on his mobile phone. The video depicted a woman performing a sexual act on a man, an act that added to the list of disturbing behaviors exhibited by the accused.

One of the most serious charges involved an incident where the girl, after coming out of the shower at McSeveney’s house, was allegedly picked up by him and had her legs wrapped around his waist. This act was described as sexual assault, and it forms part of the evidence against him.

Following his guilty plea on Tuesday, McSeveney’s defense lawyer, Neil Connor, requested that sentencing be postponed to allow the Probation Board to prepare a pre-sentence report. Judge Fiona Bagnall agreed to this request, releasing McSeveney on continuing bail until her sentencing decision, scheduled for February 10. The judge also ordered McSeveney to sign the police sex offenders register, ensuring he remains under supervision as the legal process continues.