HUGH BRADLEY FROM BALLYKELLY AND LONDONDERRY FACES SERIOUS SEXUAL ABUSE CHARGES

In a case that has reopened painful memories from decades past, Hugh Gerard Bradley, aged 59, appeared before Londonderry Crown Court to face multiple serious allegations of sexual abuse. Bradley, originally from Londonderry but residing at Willow Crescent in Ballykelly, admitted to a total of 11 charges involving two boys, with the abuse allegedly occurring over a span of several years starting in December 1983.

It was revealed during the court proceedings that Bradley was not a stranger to the criminal justice system. In 1991, he was sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually assaulting two brothers and their sister in 1989. This earlier conviction was part of a broader pattern of offending, which included the abuse of a 14-year-old boy who was both blind and deaf. The court heard that Bradley had served time for these offenses, which had left a lasting impact on the victims and their families.

During the hearing, a prosecution barrister detailed the disturbing nature of the recent allegations. The abuse was said to have taken place in various locations familiar to the victims, including their family homes, nearby football pitches, a garden allotment, behind a tree, and within greenhouses. The court was told that one of Bradley’s victims was a brother of the boy he had assaulted in 1989, indicating a troubling pattern of offending within the same family circle.

The prosecutor recounted that one of the victims, a young boy who enjoyed playing football, was threatened by Bradley. The offender reportedly told him that he would break his legs if he ever disclosed the abuse, a chilling warning meant to silence the young victim. The court also heard that in a disturbing incident, the mother of one of Bradley’s 1989 victims was waiting outside Magilligan Prison on the day of his scheduled release. She was accompanied by two men and told a prison officer that she would “get him,” implying a desire for retribution.

Further complicating the case, police received intelligence in 2002 from an unverified source suggesting that Bradley was under a death threat from a paramilitary group. This added a layer of tension and concern for his safety, which was discussed during the proceedings.

In July 2015, one of Bradley’s victims reportedly confronted him, pulling him from his car and physically assaulting him with punches and kicks. Despite this incident, Bradley did not file a police complaint about the attack. The court was informed that Bradley’s legal case would be scheduled for sentencing on September 27, and he was remanded in continued custody until that date, pending the final judgment.

As the case unfolds, the community and victims alike await justice, with the court emphasizing the seriousness of the charges and the impact of Bradley’s actions over many years.