Awaiting sentencing: Brendan McGowan.
A 69 year old Derry man will be sentenced on Monday after admitting sexually abusing a boy over a four year period.
Brendan McGowan, from Brewsters Close in the William Street area of the city, initially denied the offences but changed his plea to guilty shortly before his trial was due to get under way at Derry Crown Court last month.
The former Derry City Council employee admitted a number of charges including indecent assault, committing an act of gross indecency with or towards the boy and inciting the boy to commit an act of gross indecency.
A charge of attempted buggery has been left on the books, not to be proceeded with without the permission of the court.
Prosecutor Russell Connell told Derry Crown Court today the offences occurred over a four-year period starting in 1989 when the boy, aged 12, was a first year pupil at a local secondary school.
The court was told the accused made friends with the boy who he met while acting as a swimming instructor.
The court heard the offences took place in at a flat in Colmcille Court in the Bogside area of the city where both went to listen to jazz music.
Outlining the details of the offences, Mr Connell said they ranged from the accused inappropriately touching the boy to committing a sex act over the injured party while he lay naked on the floor.
The court was also told the offences included the defendant committing a sex act on the boy and getting injured party to perform a similar act on him.
Mr Connell said while the boy was in fourth year at school he realised what had happened was wrong and stopped seeing the accused.
The court was told after not telling anyone for a number of years, the boy then reported the abuse to police.
Defence barrister Brian McCartney told the court the accused, who admitted to being homosexual and who played a pivotal role in the setting up of the Rainbow support group for gay people in the city, was “deeply remorseful” at what had happened and had “misread the signals” of the friendship.
Stating he wanted to to reflect on the case, Judge Phillip Babington adjourned sentencing until Monday afternoon next.
Releasing McGowan on bail, Mr Babington said it should not be taken as an indication of what course was to be taken when it came to sentencing.
At a previous court appearance, McGowan – who worked at the Derry City Council run Templemore Sports Complex and Tower Museum – was ordered to sign a Sex Offender’s Notification Order, the terms of which state he must inform the police of a change of address and of any plans to leave Northern Ireland for a period of three days or more.
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