Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
JAILED SEX PREDATOR IS ‘A RISK TO SOCIETY’
Man sentenced for vile attack on dog walker
A 54-YEAR-OLD man who attacked and sexually assaulted a dog walker in a park has been handed a two-year sentence.
As she jailed Christopher Martin Mcguinness for the October 2018 attack, Judge Donna Mccolgan ruled he was a dangerous offender and imposed an extended period on licence.
This measure, she said, was necessary for the protection of the public due to the “significant risk” Mcguinness posed to society.
The incident occurred on a Sunday afternoon in Belvoir Forest Park in south Belfast, and has had a lasting impact on the woman, who was 53 when she was attacked and feared she would be raped.
Mcguinness – who has previous
convictions for both sexual abuse and violence against women – displayed no empathy for his victim and stated “it was tough luck on her, I don’t do apologies or remorse”.
He was handed a two-year sentence at Belfast Crown Court, and as he was deemed dangerous he may not be automatically released on licence after serving half his prison term. Instead, when released he will be on licence for a further five years.
Due to prior sexual offending, Mcguinness is already the subject of a Sexual Offenders Prevention Order, and is on the Sex Offenders Register for an indefinite period.
The incident occurred when the victim was walking her dogs through the popular park.
In a statement, the victim revealed the lasting effects of her traumatic ordeal.
She said: “The fact it was on a Sunday during the day in broad daylight and with many walking about the forest means there is no part of the day or night that feels exactly safe when I ’m outside and on my own.”
When walking her dogs, the woman now carries a hiking pole and rape alarm and has a mistrust of males behind her.
There is no part of the day or night that feels safe VICTIM GIVING IMPACT STATEMENT TO COURT