Crown appeals abuse sentence

The attorney general has begun an appeal against the "lenient" sentence handed down to a convicted paedophile.

James Patrick Curran, 63, formerly from Highmoor Road, Cross, Londonderry, was put on probation for three years last December after admitting charges of indecent assault on three young sisters.

In the Appeal Court in Belfast on Friday, a lawyer for the attorney general submitted that probation was unduly lenient and asked the three judges to impose a prison sentence.

Declan Morgan, QC, said the abuse the girls suffered in the 1970s, when they were aged between four and nine, had significantly affected their adult lives.

In the case of one sister, he said, it was "sad to see how the incidents had harmed her relationship with her husband and daughter".

James Lavery, QC, for Curran, said that after he was convicted, a mob attacked his home and he was forced to flee the area.

"There is very little likelihood of him being able to return but his wife is standing by him," he said.

While the sentence was lenient, it was not unduly so, Mr Lavery argued.

"It was imposed after consideration of medical and pre-sentence reports," he said.

"When these crimes were committed over 20 years ago the public were not aware as they are now of the effects on the victims."

The Lord Chief Justice, Sir Robert Carswell, said he and Lord Justice Nicholson and Mr Justice Kerr wished to consider the submissions and reserved judgement until a date to be announced.