BRIAN DUFFIN FROM TOOME CONVICTED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND RESIGNS FROM ANTRIM AND NEWTOWNABBEY COUNCIL

In November 2018, a significant development unfolded involving Brian Duffin, a former councillor representing the SDLP from Cargin Road in Toome. Following a legal battle, Duffin's appeal against his conviction for sexually assaulting a teenage girl was dismissed, leading to his resignation from his political position. The incident and subsequent legal proceedings have attracted considerable attention within the local community and beyond.

Details of the case reveal that the assault took place in June 2016, when the victim, a 17-year-old girl, provided harrowing testimony about her experience. She described how Duffin, during an encounter, forcibly kissed her, sticking his tongue into her mouth. She further recounted that he placed one hand on her breast and the other on her inner thigh, constituting a sexual assault. The victim's account was described by the presiding judge as both truthful and reliable, emphasizing the credibility of her testimony.

Judge Melody McReynolds, presiding over the Coleraine County Appeal Court, delivered her verdict on Wednesday, affirming Duffin's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. She stated that she was satisfied with the evidence presented and upheld the original conviction. The judge also noted that Duffin was