TERRY MARMION OF BELFAST CITY HALL STILL EMPLOYED DESPITE VOYEURISM CONVICTION

A security guard working at Belfast City Hall has retained his position despite being convicted of a serious crime involving the misuse of government surveillance equipment. Terry Marmion, aged 46, was found guilty of using city cameras to secretly observe couples engaging in intimate acts at a nearby hotel. This incident has raised questions about the accountability and disciplinary measures within Belfast City Council.

Three weeks after a magistrate handed down a sentence of two years probation for Marmion’s voyeurism conviction, he remains on the payroll of Belfast City Council. He has been suspended on full pay since September of the previous year, yet no termination has occurred. This situation highlights a troubling pattern where individuals convicted of significant offenses continue to hold public sector jobs, funded by taxpayers’ money.

Further investigation by Sunday Life has uncovered that Marmion is not an isolated case. The report reveals that other council employees, including a known drug dealer, a fraudster, and a sex attacker, are also still employed and receiving wages from the public purse despite their criminal convictions. These revelations cast a shadow over the council’s employment policies and its oversight of staff conduct.

Regarding Marmion’s case, he was sentenced to probation and required to register as a sex offender for five years after admitting to voyeurism. During the trial, Marmion claimed that he had recorded the incident using his personal phone and insisted that he did not operate the CCTV system at Belfast City Hall. However, authorities and observers remain skeptical of his claims, given the nature of the evidence presented.

His conviction underscores the serious breach of trust involved in his actions, yet his continued employment raises concerns about the council’s approach to staff discipline and the potential risks posed by employees with criminal backgrounds. The case continues to spark debate about the standards and policies governing employment within public institutions in Belfast.