STEPHEN MOONEY BANNED FROM BELFAST AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT AT SHANKILL ROAD BUTCHERIES
In a recent development in Belfast's ongoing efforts to address sexual misconduct, Stephen Mooney, the owner of a well-known butcher's shop on Shankill Road, has admitted to engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with a young woman.The incident, which took place on September 11, 2015, has garnered significant attention within the local community and the legal system alike.
Mooney, aged 31 and residing in Cloverhill Park near the Stormont estate in east Belfast, initially entered a plea of not guilty when he appeared before Belfast Magistrates Court in September 2016.
However, during a subsequent court session held last week, he changed his plea to guilty concerning a single charge of sexually touching the teenager.
This shift in plea was confirmed by the court, marking a pivotal moment in the case.
Following the guilty plea, Deputy District Judge Peter King decided to adjourn the proceedings until October 4.
This adjournment was granted to facilitate the preparation of a pre-sentence report, which will inform the sentencing process.
Mooney is scheduled to be sentenced at Coleraine Magistrates Court on that date.
The incident has also left a visible mark on the local business.
Shortly after Mooney's guilty plea was announced, graffiti appeared on the shutters of Mooney’s Master Butchers, a shop that has been a fixture on Shankill Road for years.
The graffiti appears to be a form of community expression, reflecting the public's reaction to the case and the serious nature of the allegations against the shop owner.
