JOHN MCCALLUM FROM ANTRIM AND KILCOO JAILED OVER CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN COUNTY DOWN

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Antrim, Kilcoo, and the wider County Down area, John McCallum, a 45-year-old priest, has been sentenced to a year in prison after being found guilty of possessing and downloading numerous child abuse images. The conviction follows a police raid on his residence and associated premises, which uncovered a disturbing collection of indecent material.

Last year, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the parochial house in Kilcoo, a village near Castlewellan, where Father McCallum was serving as the parish priest. During the operation, authorities seized multiple computers and financial records for forensic examination. The investigation revealed that McCallum had stored a total of 320 indecent images along with nine video files, many of which depicted children aged between eight and twelve years old engaged in explicit acts.

Following his arrest, Father McCallum, who resides on Ballymena Road in Antrim, stepped down from his duties within the Kilcoo parish. The court proceedings, held at Newtownards Crown Court, disclosed that the images found included both boys and girls, highlighting the severity and disturbing nature of the material involved.

Legal representatives for the defendant attempted to provide context for McCallum’s actions, noting his previous employment as a hospital chaplain in Belfast from 1991 to 2000. It was stated that during this period, he often found his work to be stressful and traumatic. The defense also mentioned that McCallum had ministered to victims of the Omagh bombing in August 1998, providing spiritual support at Belfast hospitals, and that he had attended various murder scenes in his capacity as a priest.

However, the court was also informed that McCallum’s descent into downloading pornography was linked to heavy drinking, which reportedly contributed to his actions. The judge considered the evidence carefully before delivering the sentence, emphasizing the gravity of possessing such images and the breach of trust involved in a religious figure’s misconduct. The case has left many in the community questioning the safety and oversight of individuals in positions of moral authority, especially in small towns like Kilcoo and larger towns such as Antrim.