Trust moves paedophile brothers from hospital ward

Editorial Department • Published 5 Aug 2010 16:30 0 Comments

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Two paedophile brothers from Fermanagh have been moved from a hospital ward they share with patients who have learning difficulties.

James McDermott(61) and Owen-Roe McDermott(52) sexually abused children in the village of Donagh, between Lisnaskea and Newtownbutler, for over 30 years.

They were charged with a series of offences but deemed mentally unfit to face a criminal trial. A judge ordered that they be given supervision and treatment for two years and they were allowed to return home to Donagh. However, amid mounting protests from their neighbours they voluntarily admitted themselves to Lakeview Hospital in Londonderry.

However, families of patients on their ward objected to them being treated there and held a series of meetings with the hospital managers in the Western Trust.

On Tuesday the relatives said they were relieved the brothers were being moved to a different unit.

"A weight has been lifted off our shoulders," said Dermot O'Hara.

"We are very pleased that the trust moved so quickly following our meeting on Friday, and these measures are being put in place today," he added.

A Western Health Trust spokesman said it was a complex situation which needed to be addressed with sensitivity.

Trevor Millar, director of adult mental health services, said they had discussed the practicalities of offering care to the McDermott brothers.

"We are grateful that with the families' support and cooperation, the situation has moved forward to a satisfactory resolution for everyone," he said.

"The trust is continuing to care for the needs of all clients and will work closely with the families as we do this," stated Mr. Millar.

Following the latest development a man who was abused by the McDermotts when he was a boy called for calm.

"I can only imagine what it must have felt to have your child treated on the same ward as those two men," he stated.

"It is time for everyone to be calm and to reflect on what has been a very stressful period for everyone who has been touched by this extraordinarily tragic case caused by an imperfect justice system.

"It is important that the pressure applied upon the Trust over recent weeks is eased to avoid any further knee-jerk reactions, which appears to have caused a lack of communication with relatives of the patients. I have every confidence that the Western Health Trust will find a permanent solution to this problem and they must be given the space to do so," he stated.

Between them, four McDermott brothers, from Moorlough Road in Donagh, faced 60 charges of abuse spanning five decades.

John McDermott was jailed for nine years in June for the abuse, which was described as frequent, regular and persistent.

Peter Paul McDermott took his own life during his trial on abuse charges involving two young boys.

James and Owen-Roe McDermott were given lifetime orders banning them from being with children, and a two-year treatment and supervision order placing them in the care of social services.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 05 Aug 10

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