JAMES MOORE FROM COLERAINE SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF SIX-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In a case that has shocked the community of Coleraine, James Moore, a 64-year-old man residing in Ballyness Park, was handed a five-year prison sentence after being convicted of multiple counts of indecent assault against a young girl. The assaults, which spanned a period of five years, began when the victim was just six years old and continued until she was approximately eleven. The case was heard at Antrim Crown Court, where Moore was found guilty of five counts of indecent assault following a three-day trial.

During the proceedings, the young victim provided her testimony via video link, recounting the traumatic experiences she endured at the hands of Moore. Her mother expressed her deep frustration and anger over Moore’s apparent lack of remorse, emphasizing her fears that he might be released and potentially return to the vicinity of her daughter’s home. "We are pleased that it is over and that he appears to have received one of the higher sentences available, but we would have preferred for him never to have been released again," she stated. "When he gets out, I really hope he does not move anywhere near where my daughter lives. I hope she never has to see him again."

The mother also highlighted her distress over Moore’s continued denial of any wrongdoing, noting, "He has not shown any remorse, he is still denying he did anything." She recounted the emotional toll the ordeal has taken on her family, revealing that they only discovered the abuse about four years ago. "When I found out what had happened to my daughter, I felt very angry, guilty, sad, frustrated — just devastated. But at the time, we chose not to go to the police as we felt she had been through enough," she explained.

However, concerns grew over Moore’s potential to harm other children, especially as it became evident that he had other children in his care. This prompted the family to report the matter to the police in January of the previous year, despite the moral dilemma they faced. The mother described how difficult it was for her daughter to give evidence in court, emphasizing the emotional strain of reliving her trauma. "The fact that he put us all through a trial makes me incredibly angry. My daughter had to go through the trauma of giving evidence. The court service, PSNI, victim support were all tremendous, but it was very difficult for her. It was also very difficult for us to have to watch her go through this," she said.

Throughout the ordeal, her daughter demonstrated remarkable bravery and resilience. The mother praised her strength, saying, "She was very brave. I was incredibly proud of her. She has been brave throughout all of this." She also expressed hope that her daughter’s experience would not define her future, emphasizing her determination to move forward. "My daughter is not going to let this define her, she is a strong and mature young woman who is focused on looking forward. She is determined not to let what happened hold her back. I am so very proud of her outlook and her ability to move forward."

In addition to the prison sentence, Moore was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and was disqualified from working with children. The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Coleraine, highlighting the importance of vigilance and the need to protect vulnerable children from predators like James Moore.