THOMAS SCARLETT AND MARTIN BURKE SENTENCED IN LONDONDERRY FOR HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE CASE
In a deeply disturbing case that has shocked the community of Londonderry, two men were sentenced yesterday at Londonderry Crown Court for the heinous sexual abuse of a young girl within her own family home.The victims' ordeal spanned several years, beginning when she was just four years old and continuing into her teenage years, revealing a pattern of betrayal and cruelty that has left lasting scars.
The young girl, who courageously chose to waive her right to anonymity, publicly identified her abusers for the first time during the court proceedings.
Her father, Gerard Thomas Scarlett, aged 58, a former Irish Army soldier residing in Glendale Park, Londonderry, was convicted of multiple charges related to his abuse of his daughter.
Scarlett maintains his innocence and has already instructed his legal team to appeal the conviction, which was handed down in July of this year.
He was found guilty on three counts of indecent assault committed between October 1995 and October 2001, and he received a sentence of ten years in prison.
Alongside him, Martin Burke, aged 46 and a resident of Creggan Heights, was convicted of two counts of indecent assault against his niece.
His abuse occurred over a two-year period starting in October 1989, prior to the abuse inflicted by Scarlett.
Burke was sentenced to five years in prison.
Despite his conviction, Burke continues to deny any guilt but has chosen not to appeal, citing a desire to avoid further court proceedings for his niece’s sake.
Judge Philip Babington delivered a stern judgment, condemning both men for subjecting their young victim to a period of appalling and egregious abuse.
The judge emphasized the horrifying nature of Scarlett’s offenses, especially considering his position as her father and his awareness that her older brother-in-law, Burke, had already subjected her to abuse.
The judge stated, “He chose to do nothing about that abuse because he wanted to do something similar.
He then abused his daughter over a two-year period and again when she was aged 14 or 15, in a horrific fashion at a particularly sensitive time in her life.” The court heard that the abuse took place within the safety of the victim’s own home, a place where she should have felt secure.
Judge Babington described this as a gross breach of trust.
The victim was subjected to threats and intimidation; Burke reportedly frightened her with warnings about witches, while her father threatened to shoot her and then himself, telling her she would be responsible for his actions.
The impact on her has been profound, as detailed in her victim impact report.
The judge highlighted the severity of the abuse, noting that the victim was so terrified of her father’s continued assaults that she resorted to placing step ladders or an ironing board against her bedroom door to prevent him from entering.
During one particularly distressing incident, she pleaded with her father, “please don’t,” but he persisted, telling her, “you like it.” The young girl eventually reported the abuse to police in 2013.
During police interviews, Burke dismissed her allegations as “rubbish and lies,” while her father also denied any wrongdoing, insisting he had not abused his daughter.
The court reviewed a victim impact statement from the girl, who appeared visibly upset when giving her testimony.
The judge noted her suffering, both during the abuse and throughout the legal process, and acknowledged her resilience in continuing with her daily life despite her trauma.
As part of their sentences, both Scarlett and Burke were subjected to notifications under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, which will remain in effect indefinitely.
They are also permanently banned from having any unsupervised contact with females under 18 and are prohibited from any contact with their victim.
The court’s ruling underscores the gravity of their crimes and the profound betrayal of trust involved in their abuse of a vulnerable child within her own family environment.
