Febuary 2005

Concern over paedophile at leisure centre

PARENTS in Newry are threatening to picket a leisure centre as they believe a former councillor and convicted paedophile has been using it.

In 1999 former Kilkeel SDLP councillor Michael Cunningham, 52, admitted 13 counts of child sex offences, dating back to 1979.

He was released from prison after 12 months in 2000 and it is understood he was seen using the centre in Newry city several weeks ago.

“There are an awful lot of children who use that centre and I would worry about them with someone like that around, especially in the changing rooms,” said a parent.

”We are going to ask the council not to let him in again.”

The council said it could not comment on an individual’s use of council property, but a spokeswoman said that they would conduct ”any necessary investigation”.

The police have said there is nothing they can do to prevent Mr Cunningham from being on the premises.

“Only some members of the sex offenders’ register will have special conditions barring them from certain places like schools or pools,” a spokeswoman said.

A former district councillor in County Down has been sentenced to two years in prison for sexually assaulting two young girls up to 20 years ago.

November 1999

Former councillor jailed on sex charges

A former district councillor in County Down has been sentenced to two years in prison for sexually assaulting two young girls up to 20 years ago.

A Crown Court in Newry heard that former Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) councillor Michael Cunningham from Kilkeel first assaulted the girls when they were nine years old.

Cunningham continued assaulting one of them frequently and in various locations until she was 14 years old.

One of the girls reported the offences two years ago when she discovered Cunningham was driving a school bus and was on a school board of governors

A defence lawyer said Cunningham and his family now faced shame, degradation and humiliation.

He said he also accepted the hurt he had caused the SDLP, its members and leaders.

Cunningham was also sentenced to one year on probation and placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years.

It was after he was convicted of the offences that Cunningham stepped down as a Newry and Mourne councillor.

September 1999

Councillor admits sex abuse

A district councillor from Northern Ireland has pleaded guilty to 13 charges of child sex abuse.

The man, Michael Cunningham, who is a member of the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), had previously denied the allegations.

The 51-year-old from Kilkeel has been a member of Newry and Mourne council since the 1997 local government election.

He is also actively involved at local level in the Gaelic Athletic Association.

Cunningham made a five minute appearance in the dock at Newry Crown Court late on Monday afternoon after a day of consultation with his legal team.

He admitted indecently assaulting two girls aged six and seven in a series of charges dating back to 1979.

Victims hear plea

His victims, now in their late twenties, were in the public gallery to hear his change of plea.

Four charges of raping one of the girls over a six year period were not proceeded with.

Judge Randal McKay ordered that Cunningham’s name should be placed on the Royal Ulster Constabulary’s sex offenders register.