One of the victims of a group of brothers in Fermanagh has called for mental health laws to be changed. after a judge in Omagh today said the village of Donagh in Fermanagh had “an appalling secret” and faced a “tidal wave of abuse”.
The judge sentenced 60 year old John Michael McDermott, of Moorlough Road, Donagh to nine years imprisonment for 35 charges of sexually abusing children over 30 years.
Two of his brothers – mentally unfit to stand trial – were given lifetime sexual offences prevention orders.
61 year old James and 52 year old Owen Roe McDermott were banned from schools and playgrounds in the village and from having access to anyone aged under 16.
A fourth brother, 62 year oldPeter Paul Mc Dermott, killed himself after the start of his trial last month.
Their victims said the brothers had destroyed their childhoods.
One of the victims, who now lives in Donegal, says the judge did the best he could under the constraints of the law, but it’s now time the law was changed……….
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