WILLIAM MCCORRISTON FROM LONDONDERRY SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT

In a case that has shocked the community of Londonderry, William McCorriston, a 77-year-old former SDLP councillor, has been sentenced following his admission to serious charges of sexual assault against a young girl. The incident, which took place in 2010, came to light after the girl, who was only 11 years old at the time, confided in her mother about the inappropriate conduct.

According to court reports, the police were alerted after the child's mother revealed that her daughter had disclosed that a family friend had touched her inappropriately and made an unsuitable comment. The girl recounted that McCorriston had kissed her and had felt her body over her clothing. She also described that, a few weeks prior, he had kissed her on the cheeks and then on the lips, actions that caused her distress and concern.

William McCorriston, who resides on Phillip Street in Londonderry, was charged with two counts of sexual assault, with the offences occurring between September 6 and September 21, 2010. He subsequently pleaded guilty to these charges in court. As part of his sentencing, he was ordered to serve a probation period and was placed on the sex offenders register for five years. Additionally, he will be subject to a sexual prevention order that explicitly prohibits him from having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18, including his own grandchildren. The order also restricts him from loitering near locations where children are known to gather, aiming to prevent any future incidents.

This case highlights the ongoing concerns surrounding child protection and the importance of vigilance within communities like Londonderry, where residents are now grappling with the implications of this disturbing revelation involving a once-respected local figure.