DANIEL CURRAN'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN COUNTY DOWN AND DUNDRUM REVEALED

In December 2022, a disturbing case involving Daniel Curran, a man with a long history of sexual offenses against children in County Down and Dundrum, came to light through court proceedings that spanned over several years. Curran, aged 72, has been at the center of numerous allegations and convictions related to child sexual abuse, with his actions spanning more than two decades.

Most recently, Curran was sentenced to a three-month jail term, which was suspended for three years, after he was found to have breached a court-ordered Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). District Judge Steven Keown, presiding over the case at Downpatrick Magistrates’ Court, expressed his disappointment at Curran’s lack of insight and minimization of his behavior, as reflected in the pre-sentence probation report. The judge made it clear that if Curran were to breach the SOPO again within the suspension period, he would face immediate custody.

The case originated when Curran, who resides on Bryansford Avenue in Newcastle, pleaded guilty to breaching his lifelong SOPO on August 12. The breach involved him remaining or loitering at Tullymore National Activity Centre, a location that naturally attracts children and is therefore sensitive under his court restrictions. Evidence presented in court indicated that Curran had entered the activity center carrying a box of books intended for dissemination. Staff at the center recognized him and, upon inspecting the contents, discovered the books contained explicit sexual references. These books were authored by a pseudonym, Nicholas Russell, which Curran had previously used to write several books set in the Newcastle area.

Police were alerted, and upon arrest and interview, Curran admitted to being at the center and leaving the books there. The prosecution highlighted that despite Curran’s early guilty plea, he had only one previous breach of his SOPO since being under supervision since 2009. During the hearing, Curran was observed sitting at the back of the court dressed in a blue anorak. Judge Keown acknowledged that the breach was serious enough to cross the custody threshold but decided to suspend the sentence, considering Curran’s guilty plea and prior conduct.

Historically, Curran’s criminal record is extensive. Four years prior, in 2018, he was handed a community service order after being convicted of sexually abusing a boy over 20 years earlier. The judge at that time, Judge Piers Grant, emphasized the gravity of Curran’s breach of trust and warned that any further offenses could result in custodial sentences. Curran’s history includes multiple convictions dating back to 1977, with sentences ranging from seven years to suspended sentences, totaling over 15 years of imprisonment for offenses involving boys aged 7 to 12.

In September 2022, Curran was accused of breaching his SOPO again by loitering at Tullymore National Activity Centre without permission from his risk manager. This incident was part of a series of allegations that revealed a pattern of behavior aimed at circumventing court restrictions. The court proceedings also uncovered that Curran had indecently assaulted a 12-year-old boy during an overnight stay at his family cottage in Tyrella, Co Down. The victim, who reported the abuse in 2015, recounted that Curran had taken him and other boys to the cottage, where alcohol was involved, and that Curran had sexually assaulted him and forced him to touch him sexually. Curran admitted to being at the cottage and leaving books there, but claimed he could not remember the specific incident due to his history of alcoholism, which he claimed he had abstained from since July 1994.

Throughout his criminal career, Curran has been convicted multiple times for similar offenses, with sentences including a seven-year term in 1995, an 18-month suspended sentence in 2005, a 14-month jail sentence, and a four-year sentence in 2012. His offenses have involved boys aged 7 to 12, and his pattern of abuse often involved luring children to remote locations, such as his family cottage, under the guise of trips or church-related activities. His crimes have been characterized by a gross breach of trust, given his role as a priest, and have caused significant harm to his victims.

In 2014, Curran faced additional charges for new allegations of child abuse, which led to further court appearances and bail conditions. Despite his repeated convictions, Curran has also admitted to writing sexually explicit books under the pseudonym Nicholas Russell, which have been found in libraries and educational institutions across Northern Ireland. This revelation has caused concern about the potential influence of his writings and the possibility of further harm or exposure to vulnerable populations.

Throughout these proceedings, Curran’s defense argued that he was remorseful but unable to recall specific incidents due to his alcohol addiction. Nonetheless, the courts have consistently recognized his high culpability, the breach of trust involved, and the severe impact on his victims. His case remains a stark reminder of the ongoing issues surrounding clerical abuse and the importance of safeguarding measures to protect children from predatory individuals like Daniel Curran in County Down and Dundrum.