JAMES SLOAN FROM TEMPLEPARTICK SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS FOR RAPE OF SISTERS IN BELFAST

In June 2003, a deeply disturbing case unfolded at Belfast Crown Court, located within the Laganside Courts complex, involving James Sloan, a 39-year-old man from Oakview, Templepatrick, County Antrim. Sloan was convicted of an extensive series of heinous crimes, including 35 counts of rape and indecent assault, committed over a period exceeding a decade. The victims, two sisters who courageously chose to waive their right to anonymity, expressed their outrage and heartbreak over the relatively lenient sentence handed down to Sloan.

During the court proceedings, emotions ran high, and scenes of anger and frustration erupted. One of the victims, visibly distressed, stated, “He took 10 years of my life and he is given just seven.” Her sister echoed these sentiments, emphasizing their intent to try to move forward despite the trauma inflicted upon them. As Sloan was led away from the courtroom, a tense scene unfolded where court staff, police officers, and a solicitor had to intervene to separate Sloan’s victims from his wife, who is also his half-sister. The wife, who appeared in court, publicly declared her forgiveness for Sloan and expressed her support for him, a stance that further complicated the emotional atmosphere of the proceedings.

Sloan’s crimes began when one of the victims was only 12 years old, with the abuse starting at that young age. A few years later, he began to target the other sister, who was just 11 at the time. The judge presiding over the case, Patrick Markey, condemned Sloan’s actions as “extremely unpleasant and disgraceful,” emphasizing the severity of his misconduct. In his sentencing, Judge Markey ordered Sloan to be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life, underscoring the gravity of his crimes and the need for ongoing monitoring.

The court also heard that Sloan’s guilty plea, which covered offenses dating back to 1991, had led to a wave of hostility from his own family. They received hate mail, and their vehicle was vandalized in retaliation. Additionally, posters labeling Sloan as a “child molester” were displayed near his residence, further illustrating the community’s outrage. While Judge Markey acknowledged the pain caused to Sloan’s family by these acts of retribution, he made it clear that “no one but yourself has inflicted that upon them,” reaffirming Sloan’s sole responsibility for his actions and the consequences that followed.