Paddy McCourt Receives Three-Month Suspended Sentence for Sexual Assault
Former Celtic and Northern Ireland player Paddy McCourt has been given a three-month suspended sentence for sexual assault. McCourt, of Wheatfield Court in Muff, County Donegal, was convicted for sexually touching a woman in a bar in Londonderry in January 2022. He had denied the charge and will appeal the sentence. The 39-year-old, who also played for Derry City, was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years.
Overview of the Incident
The incident occurred at a bar in Londonderry in January 2022. McCourt was convicted for sexually touching a woman without her consent. The 39-year-old had denied the charge and will appeal the sentence. He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years. The incident had been recorded on CCTV and judge Magill told McCourt “one thing was clear was your level of intoxication”.
Sentencing Details
McCourt’s three-month sentence was suspended for two years. Londonderry Magistrates’ Court was told the victim had been touched on her bottom during an incident the judge said was “brief but startling for her”. In a victim impact statement, district judge Ted Magill added, the woman said one of the worst elements of the case was that some people had called her a liar. The judge said: “She had told the truth and she did suffer an indecent assault”.
The judge added that women and girls should not be in fear of “anyone putting their hand up their clothes”. That was “the serious aspect of the charge”, judge Magill said, and as such the custody threshold had been passed. McCourt, the judge added, had not accepted his guilt, leaving him with few options in relation to sentencing.
Reaction to the Sentencing
The sentencing has been met with mixed reactions from the public. Some feel that McCourt should have received a harsher sentence while others feel that the punishment was too severe. Many people believe that this case highlights the need for greater awareness of sexual assault and its consequences.
Conclusion
Paddy McCourt has been given a three-month suspended sentence for sexual assault. The incident occurred at a bar in Londonderry in January 2022 and McCourt was placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years. The sentencing has been met with mixed reactions from the public, with some feeling that McCourt should have received a harsher sentence while others feel that the punishment was too severe. This case highlights the need for greater awareness of sexual assault and its consequences.