Northern Ireland

Former councillor given suspended sentence for sexual assault of teenage girl

Brian Duffin pictured at Antrim courthouse last year
Brian Duffin pictured at Antrim courthouse last year Brian Duffin pictured at Antrim courthouse last year

A disgraced councillor convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage girl avoided going to jail yesterday when a judge suspended his prison sentence.

Imposing a four-month term on 73-year-old Brian Duffin but suspending it for three years, Judge Melody McReynolds said his actions towards his teenage victim had been “reprehensible, belittling, humiliating and disrespectful”.

She also praised the victim as a “very brave young woman who stood up to you practically and literally” during and after the incident in June 2016.

Duffin, a father and grandfather from Cargin Road, Toomebridge, was first convicted of sexual assault in June last year following a short contest at Antrim Magistrates Court and was handed a four-month prison sentence.

He appealed that decision and sentence but at the end of another hearing last November, when the victim had to testify against him for the second time, Duffin's conviction was confirmed by County Court Judge McReynolds.

The court heard that the SDLP turned independent member of Antrim and Newtownabbey council, who quit his seat last November, “stuck his tongue” into the mouth of the 17-year-old and had one hand on her breast and the other on her inner thigh during the sexual assault on a sofa when she was talking about an ill grandfather.

Estimating that the attack lasted about 10 seconds, the victim said when she managed to get up neither she nor Duffin said anything but he took his wallet out and put £40 on the table before walking out.

The teenager said she had tried to block out the attack as the sexual assault was “something I don’t want to remember”.

Duffin claimed that he put his arm around the girl to comfort her as she had become upset over her grandfather's illness and that she “gave me a kiss on the lips... it lasted a few seconds.”

He denied sexually assaulting her and said he was "totally devastated" by the allegations, but the judge said she was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt the complainant was "truthful, accurate and reliable".

During her sentencing remarks yesterday, Judge McReynolds acknowledged that Duffin’s conviction had caused “massive reputational damage” given his clear record and “many years of public service” as a councillor.

“Despite the widespread publicity in the case no-one else has come forward to make any further allegations,” said the judge.

She told Duffin, who sat with his head bowed throughout the 20-minute hearing, it was her view that the circumstances of the case and his background were such to justify suspension of the prison sentence including his “maturity and unblemished character.”

Duffin was ordered, however, to sign the police sex offenders register for the next seven years.