NORTHERN IRELAND
Belfast Telegraph
By Debra Douglas
newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
29 April 2005
A former Co Londonderry headmaster who abused three young boys was today sentenced to four years in prison.
Jude Lynch (44), of Earmount Road in Park, admitted 33 sex offences against three boys age 13, 14 and 15, including indecent assault and gross indecency.
Sentencing the former principal, Judge David Smyth QC said: "As a headmaster you were in a position to understand the extent of the wrong you were doing."
Describing Lynch's victims as vulnerable he said: "They were under the age of consent and you as a headmaster knew that."
Judge Smyth described Lynch as the architect of the incidents and said he used his organisational ability and talents to book hotels to impress these "vulnerable children".