STEPHEN MCILVENNY, BELFAST SEX OFFENDER, SENTENCED FOR RAPE AND ABUSE OF YOUNG BOYS

A notorious sex offender from Belfast, Stephen McIlvenny, has been sentenced to 23 years in prison after admitting to a total of 77 criminal charges related to the sexual exploitation and abuse of young boys. The police described him as a “child predator who brutally sexually exploited his victims,” highlighting the severity and brutality of his crimes.

McIlvenny, aged 21 at the time of sentencing, was linked to an address at Hydebank Young Offenders Centre, although he previously resided at Glasvey Close in the Twinbrook area of Belfast. Some of his offending took place when he was just 16 years old, indicating that he began his criminal activities during his mid-teens. Throughout the court proceedings, he was characterized as “a callous paedophile,” who systematically befriended his victims by identifying shared interests, thereby gaining their trust before subjecting them to abuse.

His criminal activities spanned from the ages of 16 to 19, during which he targeted three boys aged between 14 and 15. McIlvenny employed a manipulative and elaborate scheme to control his victims. He falsely claimed that he was also being sexually abused and was being forced to perform acts on camera, which he then used as leverage to blackmail and coerce the boys into compliance. Through this method, he maintained an iron grip over them, instilling fear and ensuring silence. The threats included the potential release of compromising images on social media, which he used as a tool to keep his victims submissive.

When some of the victims attempted to distance themselves from his influence, McIlvenny escalated his abuse by assaulting one of them on the street, causing significant injuries. This act of violence underscored the dangerous and unpredictable nature of his behavior.

Detective Inspector Nikki Deehan from the PSNI Public Protection Branch expressed her support for the sentencing, emphasizing the brutality of McIlvenny’s actions. “McIlvenny is a child predator who brutally sexually exploited his young victims and inflicted long-lasting trauma,” she stated.

A mother, speaking anonymously, shared her devastating perspective on the impact of the crimes on her son. She described how the abuse had profoundly affected her child's life, making it difficult for him to trust others and form new relationships. She revealed that her son was also physically beaten, suffering a bleed on the brain, in an effort to silence him and prevent him from revealing the abuse. The mother expressed relief that the lengthy judicial process had finally resulted in a sentence, offering her family some measure of closure after three years of legal proceedings.

The case was prosecuted by Catherine Kierans, head of the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) Serious Crime Unit. She condemned McIlvenny’s manipulative tactics and praised the bravery of the victims for coming forward. “McIlvenny is a callous paedophile who manipulated boys several years younger than him to inflict horrific sexual abuse on them,” she said. She also emphasized that anyone, regardless of gender, can be a victim or perpetrator of sexual abuse, and reassured victims that the PPS team handles such cases with utmost sensitivity and care.

In her closing remarks, Kierans urged young people who might be suffering abuse to seek help, emphasizing that the shame belongs solely to the abuser. “There are people who can help. Please speak to a trusted adult,” she advised, reinforcing the importance of speaking out and seeking support to prevent further harm.