Three sex abuse victims name same businessman

Two men have broken their silence to claim they were sexually abused by the same Enniskillen businessman in a suspected paedophile ring over 30 years ago.
The latest revelations about Fermanagh’s dark past comes as the Police Service of Northern Ireland confirms it is now reviewing 19 historic sex abuse cases in Fermanagh. Seven of these cases relate to suspected child abuser and former Ulsterbus driver David Sullivan. It follows a long-running investigation by this newspaper that is set to continue in the coming weeks. 
In today’s Impartial Reporter, two men, both of whom came forward separately, claim the now retired businessman sexually abused them while a third alleged victim has claimed the same businessman was in a house moments before he was drugged and raped by Sullivan.
The alleged abuser who two alleged victims say knew Sullivan still lives in Fermanagh, is well known in the business community and held significant positions of trust in the past. 
None of the alleged victims know each other; one is based in Belfast, the other in England, and the third still lives in the county. They are from different backgrounds and would have never met.
Paul (not his real name) claims he was first sexually abused on the Ulsterbus Sullivan used to drive to and from local schools when he was 11 years old. He is the second alleged victim of sex abuse on board Sullivan’s Ulsterbus to come forward. Translink has previously declined to comment due to the ongoing police investigation. 
“The last drop off was in Hillview, I was the last one on the bus. He pulled over there. He was going on about how he was into model aeroplanes and model cars, and all the rest. He touched me then he made a joke about it. That was it. He parked the bus and went into his house.” 
Paul, who is now 40, had first met Sullivan while out fishing at a jetty near Cornagrade. 
“It was right where the police station is. He told me he remembered bringing me to Castle Archdale on the school bus. He came back with a Tab cola and a packet of crisps,” recalled Paul.
Sullivan befriended Paul’s mother who was in the same mobility club as him. He recalls him telling his mother he had work for him to do such as painting and gardening. 
“He’d say ‘have a wee beer’ when I was 12, 13. It started from there. He was touching me, watching pornographic videos, taking his thing out and masturbating in front of me and other young boys. I would be there for 10 minutes on my own, he’d go off and he’d bring other adult men over. I wasn’t there for that, I was there for the money.”
He recalls first meeting the Enniskillen businessman at Sullivan’s house in Lisbellaw. 
“I recognised him from my mother bringing me into his business. He was constantly staring down between my legs. He was a creep. We were sitting there and the beer came out, before I knew it he was over to me and opened my belt, put his hands down my trousers and grabbed my privates.”
He claims there were two other adults in the room and four children from Tamalght, Lisbellaw and Coleshill who he claims were abused at the same time.
Paul was given alcohol by Sullivan after being asked over to paint his mother’s skirting boards in her home in Enniskillen when she was away. A short while later he woke up to find the Enniskillen businessman sexually abusing him as Sullivan sat watching from another room.
On another occasion he was abused by Sullivan in his car and claims the abuse also took place across the Border in counties Leitrim and Monaghan. 
He believes Sullivan had managed to ‘groom’ the police, too. 
“I got stopped by police driving a car at a checkpoint in Enniskillen when I was 15, Sullivan came up behind in another car, a red polo. He flashed the lights at me as if to say ‘don’t worry’. He stuck his head out of the window and the cop said ‘OK, go on ahead’. 
“The cop actually tapped on the top of Sullivan’s car as he drove by,” said Paul. 
Now he intends to speak to police. “I think that Enniskillen businessman should be brought before the courts before it is too late to give people a peace of mind. I will absolutely go to the police now,” he told this newspaper. 
Chris (not his real name) was 15 when he was first sexually abused by Sullivan after thumbing for a lift near Maguiresbridge. 
“It was Spring, Summer and I was looking for a lift to Lisbellaw. It was quite busy, a lot of cars went by, then this man stopped. I recognised him from driving the school bus. 
“He started driving and said to me, ‘What’s a good looking fella like you out thumbing for?’ and within minutes he started rubbing my leg, then he put his hand up further and asked me to show him my penis. I said no, I told him he was making me feel uncomfortable. Then he said he would take his out. He kept grabbing me. I was shaking,” recalled Chris, who is now 47. After arriving in Lisbellaw, Chris managed to get away from Sullivan.  Several months later he would meet the alleged child abuser again.
He was in a pub in Lisbellaw with his friends when he spotted Sullivan. He froze as the former youth club leader summoned him outside. “He wanted to explain what had happened in the car the last time he saw me. He told me to go to his house which was a few yards away,” he said. 
When Chris walked into the front door of the house another man whom he believes was the same Enniskillen businessman was sitting on a seat drinking and smoking cigarettes. 
“Sullivan asked me if I wanted a drink. I said no and sat down on the settee. Then he said ‘I am sorry about the other time’. He said ‘I want to see all that you’ve got’ and as he said that the other man went out of the room. I was left alone with Sullivan.”
After accepting a cup of tea Chris said he felt himself “getting drowsy” and believes Sullivan may have “put something in my drink”.
“I got drowsy all of a sudden and he started fondling me. Then he raped me, it was horrible, it lasted 10 or 15 minutes. I was screaming and roaring, I just wanted someone to help me but nobody heard me. The other man could have been there too, for all I know.”
He never went to police at the time but will now make a formal statement. 
A third victim was 13 or 14 when he was allegedly abused by the Enniskillen businessman in toilets at Nugent’s Entry in the town, around 1988. “I don’t remember what I was wearing but he started touching me while pleasuring himself. I recognised him from a business my mother used to bring me into. I used to get angry at her for taking me there.”
He too intends to report this man’s name to police.
Speaking yesterday (Wednesday) Detective Chief Superintendent Paula Hilman said: “The enquiry into historical sexual abuse in Fermanagh is currently reviewing 19 cases dating back to 1963. Seven of these cases relate to David Sullivan.
“We are taking all of these reports very seriously and I would encourage anyone who has been a victim to please come forward and speak with us. Please be assured that we will make it as easy as possible for you. You do not have to come to a police station. You can report directly to the police via 101 or through a dedicated email address at historicalabuse@psni.pnn.police.uk and we will arrange to meet at a time and place that best suits you. Please don’t suffer in silence, come and speak to us,” she told this newspaper.