Victims of a former GAA club official who admitted over 100 sex abuse charges say the “pain and suffering” they experienced will not be felt by another generation after he was jailed.
a man has beenjailed for 16 years for what a judge described as a campaign of sexual abuse which caused immeasurable harm to victims over thirty years. thomas mckenna pleaded guilty to 162 charges in relation to attacks on 23 boys and young men. he had been an official at a gaelic football club in county armagh. chris page reports from belfast crown court. for three decades, thomas mckenna s victims felt they had to stay silent, but now he s been jailed for an horrific betrayal of trust. he carried out sex attacks at one of the most successful clubs in one of northern ireland s most popular sports. crossmaglen rangers have won dozens of gaelic football titles. mckenna also abused victims in their homes, in pubs and in the van he used as a postal worker. we as a group are immensely proud of the strength,
dignity and unity we displayed throughout this process to get the justice we deserve and ensure that the pain and suffering inflicted upon us will not be felt by another generation in our community. the judge at belfast crown court said mckenna s own account of the abuse had been chilling, that he played psychological games to manipulate boys and young men to the point where they felt powerless. the court heard mckenna had caused immeasurable harm, including suicide attempts, relationship breakdowns and addiction problems. the club has apologised. to the victims, we are deeply sorry. yourjourney has been a difficult one and your strength to stay the course and see this case through to its legal conclusion is testament to your character and recognition of the support received. to your parents and families, we are sorry. the governing body of gaelic sports has announced an independent review of the case.
thomas mckenna was described by the judge as a dangerous offender whose crimes were unprecedented in scale and duration. chris page, bbc news, belfast. the communications workers union has recommended its members accept an offer on pay and conditions to and strike action with royal mail. the dispute led to a series of strikes last year. the agreement includes a one off payment of £500 and a wage rise of 6% this year and 2% in 202a. england captain leah williamson will miss this summer s world cup with a knee injury. the 26 year old arsenal defender was injured in a match against manchester united on wednesday and will now undergo surgery. the lionesses are due to begin their world cup campaign against haiti onjuly 22nd. after being bought by two hollywood stars and gaining new fans around the world, wrexham are now one win away