‘It took great courage for the victims in this case to speak out’ – PPSpublished at 12:15 BST
12:15 BST
Catherine Kierans from the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said the “outcome reflects the strength of the partnership between the PSNI and the PPS,
and our shared commitment to tackling sexual crimes and securing justice for
victims”.
“We recognise that it took great courage for the victims in
this case to speak out,” Kierans said.
“Victims of sexual abuse should never feel shame for what
was done to them. The shame belongs solely to those who commit these offences. We know that the criminal justice
outcome will not heal all the hurt the victims have experienced,” she said.
“However, we
hope it will be of some comfort to them as they look to the future.”
Kierans said the PPS recognises it can be daunting for victims of sexual offences to come forward.
However, she added: “My message is that help is available. The first step may be speaking to someone you trust. If you are a victim of sexual abuse, no matter how much time has passed, or who the offender is, dedicated police officers and prosecutors will treat you with respect and dignity.
“Where there is sufficient evidence to provide a
reasonable prospect of conviction, we will not hesitate to prosecute and hold
offenders to account.”