RONALD GRAHAM CHILD KILLER CLAIMS TO HAVE FOUND GOD IN ANTRIM
In February 2012, Ronald Graham, a convicted child sex killer, announced that he has 'found God' after being 'healed' during a visit from a prison pastor.Graham was imprisoned in 1981 for the brutal murder of five-year-old Julie Cole in Antrim.
He also created an online film from behind bars where he discusses his dramatic religious conversion, describing his newfound faith and love for God.
Graham, now 53, has a prior history of disturbing sex offenses involving children.
He states he committed himself to the Lord after meeting Bangor cleric Martin Tuson while at Maghaberry jail.
However, Rick Cole, the father of the child Graham murdered, dismissed the religious claims, calling Graham a 'convicted paedophile' and expressing disbelief that Graham has truly changed.
Rick Cole described the film as 'disturbing' and made it clear he did not accept Graham’s claim of repentance.
In the documentary titled 'Behind Prison Walls,' Graham appears enthusiastic about his faith, sharing his thoughts on his spiritual renewal.
Background of the Crime and Trial: In July 1981, Ronald Terence Graham stood before Belfast Crown Court.
He pleaded guilty to the murder of five-year-old Julie Anne Cole and was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment on June 2, 1982.
An attempt to appeal the conviction on the grounds that Graham suffered from Klinefelter’s Syndrome—believed to affect his social, sexual behavior, and mental responsibility—was abandoned in March 1985.
Graham has remained in custody since his arrest on July 4, 1981.
The court procedures aimed to set an appropriate tariff—an estimate of the period Graham should serve before possible parole—based on his offense and its severity.
Factual Details of the Crime: At the time of the offense, Graham was a 22-year-old single man living with his parents in Portlee Walk, Antrim.
He was unemployed.
During the evening of July 2, 1981, he was staying at a friend’s house and subsequently participated in a search organized by the community after Julie Cole was reported missing.
Julie was last seen around 10:20 to 10:30 p.m.
That night.
Police interviewed Graham and initially believed his account that he had been drinking with Ivan Vaughan from 1 p.m.
to 7 p.m., then saw Julie visit the Vaughan home, and then joined a search party.
Despite his denials of involvement, later interviews revealed Graham admitted to indecently assaulting Julie and concealing her body in the loft of the Vaughans' house.
In graphic detail, Graham's later confession described how he had lured Julie, strangled her with his hands in a fit of uncontrollable rage, and then attempted to sexually assault her, failing to do so.
He admitted placing her body in the loft, which was confirmed when her body was discovered there.
He also recounted that he had wanted to kill someone, impulsively, and that he had acted on an uncontrollable urge.
Post-mortem and psychiatric assessments confirmed the cause of death was manual strangulation but found no evidence of sexual interference.
Graham’s psychiatric evaluations over the years described him as highly dangerous, with traits of psychopathy and antisocial behavior, displaying a lack of remorse for his actions.
Previous criminal record includes convictions for theft, burglary, malicious damage, forgery, and two indecent assaults—on a 13-year-old girl and a young boy—leading to prison sentences.
Graham’s first known sexual offense was in July 1976, and the second in April 1980.
Sentencing: The judge sentenced Graham to life imprisonment, acknowledging the profound shock and hurt caused by the murder and reflecting on the brutality and premeditation involved.
Despite his guilty plea, the court noted Graham’s multiple inconsistent accounts and attempts to shift blame did not justify a shorter tariff.
In considering tariff length, the court cited relevant legal guidelines, noting that because the murder involved the abduction of a child and possibly sexual elements, a minimum jail term was warranted.
The court ultimately set Graham’s minimum term at twenty-five years, including pre-trial detention.
Impact on the Victim’s Family: Evelyn Cole, Julia’s mother, expressed her devastation, stating that Graham's actions destroyed her family’s life forever.
She detailed the trauma of his involvement in the search effort and the subsequent loss of her unborn child and her ongoing emotional suffering.
Mrs.
Cole emphasized the ongoing pain and loss her family endures, asking how anyone could comprehend why Graham would commit such a crime.
Legal and mitigation considerations were presented by Graham’s solicitor, highlighting his remorse, the impact of Klinefelter’s Syndrome, and his criminal history, though the court found no grounds to reduce the tariffs significantly.
The court also noted that while Graham’s guilty plea was a positive factor, his inconsistent behavior and lack of remorse weighed heavily against him.
The court acknowledged that the severity of this case— involving a child victim, concealment, and possible sexual misconduct—merits a high tariff but rejected the possibility of a whole life sentence.
The final minimum term was set at twenty-five years, reflecting the gravity of the crime and the need for public protection.
