DANNY MURRAY FROM BALLYMENA SENTENCED AFTER HOTEL ABUSE IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Two women from the north Antrim area have come forward to share their harrowing experiences after being subjected to abuse by Danny Murray, a man from Ballymena, during a night in Belfast. Their courageous decision to waive their right to anonymity highlights the severity of their ordeal and serves as a stark reminder of the importance of speaking out against such crimes.

Aoibhinn Scott and Orla Gordon, both aged 25, attended Belfast Crown Court to witness the sentencing of Danny Murray, who was found guilty of multiple serious offences. Murray, aged 28 and residing at Rockfield Heights in Ballymena, received a 12-month prison sentence, which was suspended for two years. Additionally, he was subjected to a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order and will be registered on the Sex Offenders Register for a decade.

The court heard that Murray pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault, one charge of common assault, and one count of voyeurism. All these offences took place in the early hours of August 15, 2022, within a hotel room located in the heart of Belfast city centre. The incidents left both women deeply traumatized, and they openly expressed their pain and fear during the court proceedings.

Aoibhinn, who is the mother of Murray’s child, stated publicly, “We have nothing to hide. We have nothing to be ashamed of.” She also voiced her fears about encountering Murray in everyday settings, saying, “I’m scared of him. What if I bump into him at the gym or on a night out? What do I do then?” Her words underscored the ongoing emotional impact of the assault.

Orla described her experience as the worst three years of her life, emphasizing the lasting damage caused by Murray’s actions. “He robbed me of both my dignity and my trust in people,” she said. She recounted the terror she felt during the assault, explaining, “It traumatised me. It’s with me every day. I was petrified in that hotel room, I just didn’t know what to do when it was happening to me.”

The court detailed the events leading up to the assault. On August 14, 2022, the three women traveled from Co Antrim to Belfast to attend a concert. They checked into a hotel, consumed alcohol, and later visited a nightclub in the city centre. In the early hours of the following morning, after grabbing food from McDonald’s, they returned to their hotel around 1:30 am. Aoibhinn attempted to contact Murray without success, and she and Orla settled into their respective beds—Aoibhinn in the double bed and Orla in a bunk bed above.

Murray returned to the hotel around 3 am and entered the room, getting into bed beside Aoibhinn, who was drifting in and out of consciousness. The court heard that Murray engaged in sexual activity with her, during which he assaulted her by slapping her, pulling her hair, and calling her a sl*t. Subsequently, he approached Orla’s bunk bed and groped her while she pretended to be asleep. Murray then sexually assaulted Orla again, an incident she believed lasted approximately ten minutes. Afterward, he returned to the double bed and fell asleep.

The following morning, at around 6:15 am, Murray again groped Orla, waking her from her sleep. She then left the room and waited in the hotel foyer for her boyfriend to pick her up. The women later confronted Murray in north Antrim, where Aoibhinn told him he had hurt her in the hotel room. Murray claimed he could not remember the incident but later sent her a text message apologizing for his behavior.

Two days after the assault, Aoibhinn discovered a video on her mobile phone showing Murray abusing Orla in the bunk bed. Over the subsequent days, more details emerged about the assaults on both women, leading to several confrontations with Murray. On August 17, Murray sent a message to Orla expressing shock and disgust at the video, claiming he remembered nothing and was in a state of confusion during the incident. He also expressed remorse, stating, “There isn’t enough apologies I can give you to make up for what I have done. I am absolutely repulsed by my actions.”

Following these revelations, both women contacted the police, leading to Murray’s arrest and subsequent interview. Under police questioning, Murray admitted to assaulting Aoibhinn, calling her a sl*t, and groping Orla, recording the latter incident. He also expressed remorse to the authorities and probation services.

Judge Philip Gilpin, who presided over the case, reviewed the Victim Impact Statements provided by Aoibhinn and Orla. He noted their vulnerability due to intoxication at the time of the offences and emphasized the seriousness of the crimes. Murray was sentenced to a suspended term, with a warning that any re-offending within the next two years would result in immediate imprisonment.

After the court proceedings, both Aoibhinn and Orla publicly thanked the police for their support. Aoibhinn urged other women to come forward, saying, “It’s not easy to go to the police but I would say to other women, just do it. Just go and you will be believed.” Orla echoed this sentiment, encouraging victims not to suffer in silence and to report any abuse they experience.