NOEL COONEY SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS FOR ABUSE IN LURGAN COUNTY ARMAGH

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Lurgan, County Armagh, Noel Brendan Cooney, aged 57, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 18 years after he pleaded guilty to a series of heinous sexual offences. The court heard that Cooney was responsible for a disturbing campaign of abuse spanning several years, during which he assaulted multiple young victims.

Cooney, a resident of Springwell Gardens in Lurgan, admitted to a total of 37 sex-related offences. These included three counts of raping a girl, as well as charges of indecent assault and gross indecency involving a boy and four girls. The offences took place between 1989 and 1993, a period during which the victims were vulnerable and trusting.

The presiding judge at Craigavon Crown Court, Patrick Markey QC, emphasized the severity of Cooney’s actions, describing them as a deliberate and systematic campaign of abuse. The judge stated that if he had been permitted to impose the maximum sentence for each individual offence, the total jail time would have been 'astronomical.' However, he explained that legal constraints prevented such a sentence, though he made it clear that the gravity of the crimes warranted a significant punishment.

Judge Markey also remarked that Cooney’s actions represented a profound betrayal of morality, trust, and friendship. He described the abuse as a calculated campaign, highlighting the betrayal of innocence and the lasting impact on the victims. The judge noted that many of those affected have been deeply scarred by the abuse, often wrongly blaming themselves for what happened.

In his sentencing remarks, the judge ordered Cooney to be placed on the sex offenders register for life, underscoring the ongoing risk he poses to society. The court also heard that the defence characterized Cooney as a 'solitary and isolated loner,' acknowledging that he had groomed his victims, which facilitated his predatory behavior.

This case has brought to light the dark underbelly of abuse that can occur within seemingly ordinary communities, and the lengthy sentence reflects the court’s recognition of the severity of Cooney’s crimes and the need for justice for his victims.