RYAN THOMPSON'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN LURGAN: SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC ABUSE REVEALED

Ryan Thompson, aged 36, of Drumbeg and Wolf Island Terrace in Lurgan, has been convicted and sentenced for a series of serious criminal offenses that have profoundly impacted his victims and the community. His latest conviction involves the heinous act of sexually assaulting the same woman twice within a single day, a crime that has led to his imprisonment and a lengthy period on the sex offenders register.

Thompson was sentenced to five months in prison for these sexual offenses. Additionally, the court mandated that he be placed on the sex offenders register for a duration of seven years. As part of the court's protective measures, a three-year restraining order was issued against him, prohibiting him from threatening, harassing, intimidating, or encouraging any form of violence or misconduct towards the victim. This order also prevents him from instructing or suggesting that others do so, ensuring her safety and peace of mind.

The case was further complicated by Thompson’s initial plea of not guilty, despite knowing that the victim would be required to give evidence against him. The victim, who was pregnant at the time, was only three weeks away from her due date when the court proceedings commenced. Now, her child is five months old, and Thompson has been released on bail as of March 18, 2025, to prepare for an appeal against his jail sentence. This decision means that the victim, already traumatized, is again compelled to appear in court and give evidence, prolonging her ordeal.

In her emotional victim impact statement, she described the devastating effects of Thompson’s actions on her life. She stated, “Since this incident I have become the shell of the woman I was beforehand. I am living life daily walking on eggshells and most of the time simple things cripple me with anxiety, panic and nausea. I feel sick to my stomach constantly. I have shut myself off from friends and family which, in return, has had a huge impact on the relationships I had with them – relationships that were hugely important to myself and to my kids. My partner has to announce himself before coming into the room to me so I know it’s him. He has to be with me everywhere I go. I can’t be with any man that isn’t him or family. Not only did he (the defendant) ruin my self-esteem, my confidence and my trust, but he also destroyed my relationship with my children and the home I had at that time because they had nowhere to stay with me. I adore my two children, and I am a mother who worships her children. These past two or three months have been some of the most difficult of my life, and I fear I will never get back the time I lost with my children due to his actions. He took advantage of me when I was most vulnerable, and his actions have damaged me not just as a person but as a mother, daughter, sister, and partner. This trauma is not something that will be easily fixed.”

It is also important to note that Ryan Thompson has a prior conviction for domestic assault in 2022, which underscores a pattern of violent behavior. On August 5, 2022, Thompson, then 33, was involved in a domestic dispute in Wolf Island Terrace, Lurgan, which resulted in him being jailed for four months. The incident was reported to police after the injured party, who had been drinking with Thompson earlier that day, went to sleep at home. She was awakened by the sound of her bedroom door being kicked open, causing it to come off its hinges. Thompson then stormed into her room, using offensive language such as “a*****e” and “you’re f*****g good for nothing, f****r.”

He reportedly pushed her backwards with both hands in the chest area as she tried to get out of bed, causing her to fall onto the bed and hit her headboard, resulting in neck pain and discomfort. The injured woman also revealed that Thompson continued to contact her by phone afterward, making threatening remarks like “You’re a f*****g a******e nothing happened to the door” and “I’ll f*****g get you and then you will have police at the door.” These interactions left her feeling “scared s******s.” Police examined her phone, which showed that Thompson had called her for over two minutes. The following day, Thompson voluntarily presented himself at Lurgan Police Station, where he answered “no comment” to questions posed by officers.

Thompson’s defense argued that he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and that the evidence against him was based solely on body-worn camera footage. It was also noted that he has a history of similar offenses, including a suspended sentence for domestic assault on the same woman, which he recommitted within five or six months. The court acknowledged Thompson’s struggles with alcohol but also recognized his role as a casual caregiver for his grandparents.

Judge Kelly emphasized the seriousness of Thompson’s actions, stating, “These are serious offences. I have to add by your plea of guilty, you are accepting that these offences were aggravated by domestic abuse. I am satisfied from the outline of the facts that domestic abuse was an aggravating feature in relation to the totality of the offences when combined together.”

Thompson was sentenced to a total of four months in custody, with concurrent sentences for common assault, criminal damage, and improper use of a public communications network. The court also invoked a previous one-month suspended sentence from September 3, 2021, which was to run consecutively, bringing the total custodial period to four months. A two-year restraining order was also granted to protect the victim from further contact or intimidation.