NORTHERN IRELAND
One in Four
A man has gone on trial at the Derry Crown Court charged with sexually abusing two young sisters when he was a lay preacher and senior member of the Free Presbyterian Church in Co Derry.
James Doherty (71), is originally from Co Donegal. Judge Gemma Loughran QC has ruled that neither his address nor the location of the Free Presbyterian church he attended could be made public in order to protect the identities of his alleged victims.
The sisters were aged six and seven when the offences allegedly took place. Mr Doherty denies committing 25 sex offences against the two sisters between August 1974 and July 1985. The charges include rape, buggery, committing an act of gross indecency with a child and indecent assault.