Latest news with #WilliamMaher
Sunday World
13-05-2025
- Sunday World
Ex-primary school teacher jailed for sex offences against two young boys
Maher was arrested by police last month and last week made an unsuccessful application for bail A former primary school teacher has been jailed for 12 months for sexual offences he committed against two young boys. William Maher, who has similar offences against children on his criminal record, was yesterday told, when he appeared before Belfast Crown Court, he will spend an additional 12 months on licence upon his release from prison. The mother of one of the victims read a 'powerful' statement from the witness box where she outlined the impact the 37-year-old convicted sex offender's actions have had not just on her son, but the entire family. She spoke of how her family's life changed in November 2023 when her son told her what Maher had done to him. 'The impact compounded onto my marriage. Guilt, blame, helplessness suffered by us as parents, as well as justifiable anger and rage,' she said. 'When you are a mother, you are acutely aware of educating your children in the dangers of encountering strangers, both face-to-face and online. 'Teachers in society are deemed safe — and indeed people that you should rely on and trust. 'Unfortunately, due to the fear that man generated by his behaviour, my son didn't feel he could tell anyone what was going the abuse he was subjected to'. Last May, Maher, from Kings Brae in Belfast, was made the subject of a three-year probation order for an unrelated case involving sexually communicating with two young boys. He was also made the subject of a five-year sexual offences prevention order (SOPO), but it's alleged he breached that order by using computers in several libraries between June 2024 and January 2025. Maher was arrested by police last month and last week made an unsuccessful application for bail. He was back in court today and was sentenced for a total of six offences committed against two boys before being dismissed from his teaching post last year. Regarding one of his victims, Maher, who kept his head bowed throughout the hearing, admitted two counts of sexual communication with a child and two counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. He also pleaded guilty to one count of sexual communication and one count of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, which relates to his second victim. All the offending occurred over a period from September 1, 2021, to May 24, 2022. Maher's offending emerged in November 13, 2023, when the PSNI received a report from one of the boy's fathers. A month later the PSNI conducted an interview with the child, during which the youngster told police that a teacher had behaved inappropriately both towards him and another boy. The boy said that Maher exchanged Post-it notes with him and another boy — some of which asked about their favourite TV shows but others which related to sexual content. William Maher News in 90 Seconds - May 13th The victim said that on one occasion Maher handed him a note telling him to go to the storeroom where, once inside, Maher showed him his pubic hair. He said his teacher also ordered the boy to go to the bathroom and pull out his own pubic hair and then show it to him, which the child refused to do. Maher also discussed sexual issues such as masturbation with the two boys via the Post-it notes. He was arrested on June 11 last year and whilst he accepted exchanging notes with the two boys, he denied they contained any sexual content and denied any offending against them. Maher maintained this stance until March 4 this year when he pleaded guilty. The parents of both victims attended today's hearing. One of the mothers who read an impact statement to the court said her son failed his transfer test and that she was 'convinced this was because of the abuse that he was subjected to'. Branding the contents of the Post-it notes written by Maher as 'disgusting', she spoke of how her son was afraid to go out after he revealed what had happened to him, as he feared his abuser would 'jump out from behind bushes' or be 'waiting for him at the school gates'. She continued: 'He was afraid that a man whom he regarded as an authority figure and had power over him was going to be really angry at him for speaking out.' Judge Philip Gilpin said he had also read a statement made by the mother of Maher's other victim. This set out the harm Maher's abuse had on the child, with his mother saying: 'I watched a confident, happy, resilient boy turn into one crippled with anxiety. 'He was often tearful and trembling and found himself unable to articulate distress.' Defence barrister Michael Boyd spoke of the 'distressing and serious nature' of his client's offending and said the testimony given by one of the boy's mothers in court was 'very powerful'. My Boyd also expressed, on Maher's behalf, his 'genuine remorse and genuine shame' about the 'trauma and distress' he has caused to the two boys and their families. He added that, 'thankfully', the offending against the two boys did not involve any physical contact. Acknowledging the alleged breaches of the SOPO, Mr Boyd said that since last May's sentencing, Maher has been engaging well with the Probation Board in addressing the 'serious' issues which led to his offending. Judge Gilpin said he had read and considered further defence submissions including a probation report. He revealed that Maher told a probation officer he found it easier to emotionally identify with children rather than adults, that the 'lines became blurred' and that he gained sexual gratification as a result of his interaction with the two boys. Telling Maher his behaviour constituted 'a significant abuse of your position of trust', Judge Gilpin said: 'I have no doubt that your offending in this case has caused considerable harm both to your victims directly but also to a variety of other people in a variety of different ways.' Judge Gilpin imposed the two-year sentence and placed Maher on the sex offenders register for 10 years. As Maher is already the subject of a SOPO, Judge Gilpin imposed an additional condition which bans him from contacting both of his victims. Speaking after sentence was passed, the father of one of the victims said this case highlighted a need for schools and the Education Authority to 'make changes in their policies and procedures to prevent this from happening again'. The parent said he was glad Maher is now in prison and said he will be moving forward by supporting his son.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-teacher jailed over sex offences left child 'crippled with anxiety'
A former teacher jailed over child sex offences transformed one of his victims from a confident child into one "crippled with anxiety", a court has heard. William Maher, 37, of Kings Brae in Belfast, was given a two-year sentence, with half to be served in prison and half out on licence, after admitting three charges of inciting two different children under the age of 13 into sexual activity. He also admitted three charges of sexual communication with a child against two children. The court heard a victim impact statement from the mother of one of his victims, which said the child was often "tearful and trembling" but "unable to articulate distress". Belfast Crown Court heard Maher taught at a primary school in east Belfast at the time the offences took place. The mother of one victim told BBC News NI after the hearing that no sentence would "compensate for the trauma and the damage that man has done to our family". She told the court in the statement that her child failed their transfer test and she was "convinced this was because of the abuse" they suffered. "The impact compounded onto my marriage. Guilt, blame, helplessness suffered by us as parents as well as justifiable anger and rage." She said she was "acutely aware" of educating her children on the dangers of strangers, both face-to-face and online, but that she never told her child to be wary of their teacher. "Teachers in society are deemed safe and indeed people that you should rely on and trust," she said. The father of the other victim said he had been concerned Maher "would not be given an immediate custodial sentence". "So I guess relief that on the one hand justice has been seen to be done, but also Mr Maher is in a situation where he cannot harm any other young people," he added. The judge told the court that Maher's offending "constituted a significant breach of trust". He added: "I have no doubt that your offending in this case has caused considerable harm both to your victims directly, but also to a vary of other people in a variety of different ways." The court heard last year Maher received a three-year probation order after pleading guilty to sexual communication with two children. He was also made the subject of a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) at the time. The judge on Monday handed Maher a further SOPO, which includes the condition that he is not to have any contact with the victims in the case. He will also spend 10 years on the sex offenders register. Police were first contacted by the father of one of the two children. When interviewed, the child told police Maher had behaved inappropriately. Police were told that Maher exchanged notes with the pupils - some asked about their favourite TV shows but others related to sexual content. The victim said that on one occasion Maher handed over a note saying to them to go to a storeroom and, once inside, Maher showed the pupil his pubic hair. Maher also discussed sexual issues such as masturbation via the notes. When questioned, he initially denied the notes contained any sexual content and denied any offending against the pupils. Maher maintained this stance until March when he pleaded guilty. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Det Con Eszter Aszmann said Maher had "preyed on the innocence of his extremely young victims". "It is often incredibly difficult for young children, to raise the alarm when an adult they trust targets them in such a way. "I would like to acknowledge the bravery of these young victims and thank the parents for their unwavering support in helping us to bring Maher before the courts."
BBC News
12-05-2025
- BBC News
William Maher: Former teacher jailed for offences against pupils
A former teacher has been given a two-year sentence with half to be served in prison and half on licence after he pleaded guilty to child sex Maher, 37, of Shaftesbury Drive in Bangor, previously admitted to three charges of inciting two different children under the age of 13 into sexual also admitted three charges of sexual communication with a child against two Crown Court heard Maher taught at a primary school in east Belfast at the time the offences took place. A judge told the court that Maher's offending "constituted a significant breach of trust".The court heard last year Maher received a three-year probation order after pleading guilty to sexual communication with two was also made the subject of a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order at the judge on Monday handed Maher a further Sexual Offences Prevention Order which includes the condition that he is not to have any contact with the victims in the will also spend 10 years on the sex offenders register. 'Preyed on innocence' Det Con Eszter Aszmann said: "Maher preyed on the innocence of his extremely young victims, who should at their age, never have been exposed to the sexual conversations he initiated with them."It is often incredibly difficult for young children, to raise the alarm when an adult they trust targets them in such a way."I would like to acknowledge the bravery of these young victims and thank the parents for their unwavering support in helping us to bring Maher before the courts."
Irish Daily Mirror
21-04-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ex-teacher and child sex offender allegedly used libraries to flout internet ban
A former teacher and convicted child sex offender allegedly used public libraries to repeatedly flout a ban on accessing the internet, a court has heard. William Maher, 37, appeared before magistrates in Belfast charged with eight separate breaches of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). The SOPO was imposed in May last year as part of a sentence imposed for communication with two young boys, reports Belfast Live. Maher was arrested by police investigating a series of alleged incidents at libraries in Bangor, Holywood and Ballyhackamore in east Belfast. He is accused of using their computers without the approval of his designated risk manager (DRM). The eight alleged breaches occurred on dates between June 2024 and January 2025. Belfast Magistrates' Court heard that Maher, of Shaftesbury Drive in Bangor, has regular meetings with his DRM but failed to discuss the library visits. "It is felt that this demonstrates a clear disregard of the court imposed order," an investigating detective said. She disclosed that one of the computers accessed at Holywood Library was located in the children's area. "It was noted on the CCTV supplied by the library that a small child walks through the computer area," the detective said. She added: "The computer area at Bangor Library is at the entrance to the children's section, and children would pass through the computer suite to access the children's section." A defence lawyer confirmed Maher accepted the breaches during police interviews. "He put forward a plausible explanation why he needed to use the computers, to print off documents for the sale of his mother's house," the solicitor revealed. "She brought him to the libraries and waited for him, he was there for no more than 10 minutes and walked out again." Maher was refused bail due to the risk of him reoffending, and he has been remanded in custody until April 30.
Sunday World
21-04-2025
- Sunday World
Former teacher and child sex offender used public libraries to flout internet ban, court told
William Maher, 37, appeared before magistrates in Belfast charged with eight separate breaches of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order. A former teacher and convicted child sex offender allegedly used public libraries to repeatedly flout a ban on accessing the internet, a court heard today. William Maher, 37, appeared before magistrates in Belfast charged with eight separate breaches of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order. The SOPO was imposed in May last year as part of a sentence imposed for communication with two young boys. Maher was arrested by police investigating a series of alleged incidents at libraries in Bangor, Holywood and Ballyhackamore in east Belfast. He is accused of using their computers without the approval of his designated risk manager (DRM). The eight alleged breaches occurred on dates between June 2024 and January 2025. Belfast Magistrates' Court heard that Maher, of Shaftesbury Drive in Bangor, has regular meetings with his DRM but failed to discuss the library visits. 'It is felt that this demonstrates a clear disregard of the court imposed order,' an investigating detective said. She disclosed that one of the computers accessed at Holywood Library was located in the children's area. 'It was noted on the CCTV supplied by the library that a small child walks through the computer area,' the detective said. She added: 'The computer area at Bangor Library is at the entrance to the children's section, and children would pass through the computer suite to access the children's section.' A defence lawyer confirmed Maher accepted the breaches during police interviews. 'He put forward a plausible explanation why he needed to use the computers, to print off documents for the sale of his mother's house,' the solicitor said. 'She brought him to the libraries and waited for him, he was there for no more than 10 minutes and walked out again.' Maher was refused bail due to the risk of re-offending and remanded in custody until April 30.
