JAMES MCKENZIE FROM BALLYCLARE SENTENCED TO NINE AND A HALF YEARS FOR RAPE AND ABUSE

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Ballyclare, James McKenzie, aged 63, was formally sentenced to nine and a half years in prison for the heinous crime of raping his own teenage daughter. The incident, which took place in May 2013, was brought to light during a court hearing at Belfast Crown Court, where McKenzie was found guilty of a single count of rape by a jury that reached a majority verdict of 10 to 2.

As McKenzie was led away from the courtroom in handcuffs, he displayed a disturbing lack of remorse, openly laughing in the face of his daughter, who was seated in the public gallery visibly distressed and crying. This daughter, who was only 15 years old at the time of the assault, courageously chose to waive her right to anonymity so that her father could be publicly identified and held accountable for his actions.

The assault occurred on May Day in Ballyclare, a day when the young girl was home from school. According to her testimony, McKenzie lured her into the downstairs bathroom of their family residence, promising her money to enjoy the town’s popular fair and amusements. Once inside, he ordered her to remove her trousers and proceeded to commit the sexual assault. The girl recounted to the court that she felt terrified of her father and that she would not have said no to him, highlighting the coercive and abusive nature of the attack.

Prosecutor Margaret-Ann Dinsmore addressed the court, emphasizing the long-lasting emotional damage inflicted upon the victim. She pointed out that the severity of the breach of trust was an aggravating factor that made the crime particularly egregious. The prosecutor also stressed that McKenzie’s level of culpability was high and that he posed a significant risk to the public. She noted that there were no mitigating circumstances to lessen his responsibility in this case.

Judge David McFarland, presiding over the case, described the crime as an “appalling breach of trust” and sentenced McKenzie to the prison term. In addition to the custodial sentence, the judge ordered McKenzie to be registered on the police sex offenders register for life. Furthermore, a lifetime Sexual Offences Prevention Order was imposed, which prohibits him from ever contacting his daughter, having unsupervised contact with children, or residing anywhere without prior approval from social services. These measures are intended to safeguard the community from any further harm.

During the trial, the jury also considered 22 other charges of rape and sexual abuse allegedly committed by McKenzie between September 1, 1980, and May 31, 1988. However, they failed to reach a verdict on these additional charges, and the court decided that McKenzie would not face retrial for them. The case has left a lasting impact on the Ballyclare community, highlighting the importance of justice and protection for victims of sexual abuse.