June 2017 Paedophile who abused children avoids prison A paedophile pensioner has been given a three year suspended sentence for the ‘disgusting and depraved’ sexual abuse of two young girls Robert James McCavery of Castlewellan in County Down admitted repeatedly sexually assaulting the two young girls between 2001 and 2011. The girls were aged just eight and 14 when the abuse began Downpactrick Crown Court heard that the pervert had previous convictions for a similar offence  McCavery denied the offences before finally pleading guilty to 10 separate counts of sexual assault on a child, days before his trial was due to begin. Judge Piers Grant said he hoped the guilty pleas would give the two females – who are now in their 20’s – comfort and justification for reporting their abuser The court heard that the abuse came to light when the girls revealed to their mother that they had been abused  Despite the vile offences against the girls, the judge said he had been persuaded with ‘considerable hesitation’ to suspend the sentence The judge continued: “You deserve a custodial sentence. It is only because of your ill health that I will suspend it for three years. There will be no second chance” McCavery was told that he must register a sex offender