November 2014
Former teacher admits abusing young girl
A disgraced retired teacher on Thursday pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a young girl more than 20 years ago.
Four days before his trial was due to start at Newry Crown Court, 69-year-old Phelim McGuigan pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault and a further count of committing an act of gross indecency with or towards the female child on dates between January 1, 1985 and December 31, 1990.
While McGuigan, who was a maths teacher at an Armagh high school, admitted two single offences, prosecuting lawyer Fiona O’Kane told the court they were “specimen counts” and that his guilty pleas were being accepted by the Crown “on the basis that he is admitting the full account given by the injured party.”
Three similar offences were ordered to be “left on the books” by Judge Kevin Finnegan QC who heard that McGuigan, from Ashgrove Road in Newry, has previous convictions for sex crimes “the commission of which was after” these offences.
Adjourning passing sentence until next month when pre-sentence probation reports will have been written, Judge Kevin Finnegan QC said given the fact “you have been through this procedure before”, he would know “it may be to your benefit to cooperate with probation”.
Releasing McGuigan on continuing bail once he had signed the police sex offenders’ register, Judge Finnegan warned him that his release “is no indication of the sentence that will be imposed”.
